Transportation Minister Budi Karya Soemadi has said the government plans to develop Soekarno-Hatta International Airport II, located 10 kilometers away from the existing airport with total investment estimated to reach Rp 100 trillion (US$6.83 billion).

“The location is north of [the existing] Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Part is on the land and the other part is offshore,” said Budi when visiting the existing airport in Tangerang, Banten on Saturday.

The planned airport will be 10 times larger than the existing airport, said Budi, adding that the project was expected to begin construction in 2020.

To realize the project, the minister said, the government would invite private companies to take part in financing the project.

The feasibility study for the project is now underway, starting from the technical, economic and ecological aspects, he added.

“After that we will decide the location. For the land acquisition, we may cooperate with private companies or not, depending on the value of the project,” Budi said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

The idea to develop Soekarno-Hatta International Airport II came from State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, because of the increasing number of airplane passengers to Jakarta, which is projected to reach 80 million in 2021 from 62 million in 2017.

Meanwhile, the current capacity of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is now only 43 million annually. (bbn)