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Luhut officiates Silangit International Airport
Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan officiated on Saturday the operation of Silangit International Airport in North Tapanuli, North Sumatra, to boost tourist arrivals and promote Lake Toba as a prime destination.
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Coordinating Maritime Minister Luhut Pandjaitan arrives in Silangit Airport in North Sumatra in a private jet from Singapore, on Sept. 9. (Coordinating Maritime Minister/Coordinating Maritime Minister)
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oordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan officiated on Saturday the operation of Silangit International Airport in North Tapanuli, North Sumatra, to boost tourist arrivals and promote Lake Toba as a prime destination.
The airport officially served international route after Luhut welcomed the arrival of Garuda Indonesia flight from Singapore, carrying 60 passengers, or two third of the flight’s capacity. The passengers were mostly slated to travel to tourism destinations around Lake Toba.
Garuda will open three flights per week to serve Silangit and Singapore route.
“If the resort in Silangit is operational, it can attract more tourists from Singapore because it will only take around 50-minute flight,” said Luhut, accompanied by Tourism Minister Arief Yahya.
The airport will have the capacity to serve 350,000 passengers annually, but the number can increase soon to 500,000 passengers.
The airport is aimed at increasing air connectivity to support economic and tourism growth at Lake Toba, which had been included in Indonesia's 10 new emerging destinations.
Silangit’s upgrade into an international airport includes extension of the runaway to 2,650 meters from 2,400 meters, the expansion of apron capacity and the airport terminal with a total investment of Rp 369 billion (US$27.7 million).
Garuda’s unit Citilink will also serve regular flight on daily basis from Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. Sriwijaya, Garuda and Lion Air have already opened flights to connect Silangit with other cities in Indonesia.
