“The land acquisition process has reached 70 to 80 percent of its target. We hope that next year [land acquisition] is complete,” Luhut said at the airport in Majalengka, West Java on Thursday, when accompanying President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the airport's soft launch.

He said the government would improve the airport's supporting infrastructure.

With the toll road, the airport can be easily accessed from its neighboring cities as well as Patimban Seaport, which would be constructed in Subang, and the industrial estates spread across Bekasi, Kerawang and Purwakarta.

“The area would be very busy and it will help ease traffic congestion in Jakarta,” said Luhut as reported by tribunnews.com.

He also said the relevant ministries are studying the possibility of connecting the airport with the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project.

“We are considering to link the airport with the [high-speed train]. The railway could even be developed further to Yogyakarta, Surakarta and Surabaya,” he said, adding that it would improve access within the next five to 10 years.

Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said three airlines would serve the airport – low-cost airline Citilink, a subsidiary of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air and Wings Air. The airport is targeted to serve between 4 and 5 million passengers annually. (bbn)

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