ational flag carrier Garuda sees opportunity in opening routes from Samarinda Baru International Airport in Sungai Siring, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, using ATR aircraft to better connect the provincial capital with big cities in Java and Sulawesi.
Most flights from big cities outside of East Kalimantan instead connect to Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan’s second biggest city, which hosts the operations of several oil and gas companies. Sepinggan Airport is 110 kilometers away from Samarinda.
ATR planes are turbo propeller aircraft with capacity of 70 passengers. The plane can take off from a relatively short runway.
“Garuda has interest in propelling economic growth,” said Arif Wibowo, the president director of Garuda Indonesia.
Garuda, however, has yet to decide the routes from Samarinda’s new airport.
Samarinda also has the older Termindung Airport, which connects the city with smaller towns in East Kalimantan like Mahakam Ulu, East Kutai, and Berau.
Samarinda Baru International Airport is currently undergoing construction and the runway has reached approximately 1,200 meters of its targeted 2,500 m. The “soft opening” of the new airport has been targeted for Jan. 10 next year. (evi)
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