State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II (AP II) was officially appointed as an operator of Kertajadi International Airport in West Java’s town of Majelengka.

The document of a cooperation was signed by West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan, AP II president director Muhammad Awaluddin and PT Bandara Internasional Jawa Barat (BIJB) Virda Dimas Ekaputra in Bandung, West Java, on Monday.

The airport is scheduled to be soft launched in May and will be hard launched in June.

“This is historic. Usually, an airport construction is financed with state funds. Kertajadi International Airport is the biggest region-owned airport,” said Heryawan after a signing ceremony.

Meanwhile, Awaluddin said apart from becoming an operator of the airport, PT AP II also acted as an investor, as the company had invested Rp 350 billion (US$28 million) for the airport's development, particularly to extend the runway from 2,500 meters to 3,000 m.

“The extension of the runway is important so that the airport can accommodate large aircraft, like the Boeing 777, to transport haj pilgrims to Mecca in the middle of 2018. The cooperation is a gate to operational readiness for soft launching on May and hard launching in June,” he added.

Ahead of the soft launching, some preparations are needed, including the completion of some facilities, operational systems, human resources, technology and supporting infrastructure, Awaluddin said.

Previously, Heriyawan said the West Java administration would keep 51 percent of the airport shares, while the rest of the shares were available to further develop the airport. (bbn)