K

upang: The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) provincial administration plans to expand three airports in the regencies of West Manggarai, Sikka and East Sumba ahead of Sail Komodo 2013.

“The three airports which have runways of 1,850 meters in length and 30 meters in width and are capable of accommodating Boeing 737-300 airplanes, will be expanded again,” head of NTT Transportation Office Donatus Dita Mete said Tuesday.

Donatus explained that the expansion constituted part of the infrastructure improvement for Sail Komodo in October next year.

Runways of Komodo Airport in West Manggarai and Frans Seda Airport in Sikka will be expanded by 200 meters, and Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport in East Sumba by 600 meters, he said.

“Expansion of the runways is intended to enable them accommodate bigger planes in line with a rising number of tourists,” Donatus said, adding that his office predicted over 1 million tourist would visit the Komodo National Park in conjunction with Sail Komodo.

Airlines which fly to the three airports include Batavia Air, TransNusa, Merpati Nusantara Airlines and Wings Air.