The airport in Indonesia’s upcoming capital Nusantara looks set to become a commercial hub in East Kalimantan, after President Joko Widodo announced that the facility will open for commercial flights by the end of 2024.
The airport was initially meant for so-called very, very important persons or VVIPs, which refers to those with large spending power, high political rank or socio-economic status.
Speaking to the media on Sept 24 after making his first landing at the Nusantara Airport, which is still under construction, Mr Widodo said: “I have ordered the transportation minister to change Nusantara Airport’s status to a commercial airport.”
When it opens by the end of the year, the airport is expected to be able to accommodate up to 200,000 passengers, with a long-term goal of handling seven million passengers annually, said Mr Widodo, who is also known as Jokowi.
The president, who will be working from the upcoming capital until he hands the reins of government to his successor Prabowo Subianto on Oct 20, said that the change in the airport’s status will benefit the surrounding community in
Nusantara.
Specifically, it will enable those living in the area to embark on religious pilgrimages like the Hajj, which is considered to be one of five important pillars of Islam.
The airport was originally scheduled to start operations in August, ahead of Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day on Aug 17, but its completion was delayed.
Source: The Strait times
