Semarang-wapresri.go.id. After attending the 59th anniversary of Diponegoro University in Semarang, Central Java on Saturday (Oct. 15), Vice President Jusuf Kalla observed the construction project of Ahmad Yani Airport in the same city.
According to President Director of PT Angkasa Pura I Sulistyo Wibowo R. Hardjito, there are 4 airport construction projects namely land preparation and road construction to the airport, the apron and exit taxiway construction, terminal building construction, and the construction of other supporting buildings.
“At the moment, project 1 namely land preparation and road construction for the access to the airport, has been 61% accomplished, while apron and exit taxiway have been 100% completed. The terminal building construction is currently in bidding process, and the construction of supporting buildings are prepared for bidding,” Sulistyo explained, adding that the project is done by PT Hutama Karya and PT Ninda Karya (KSO), while PT Pembangunan Perumahan (PP) is in charge of project 2 completion.
Sulistyo continued that the terminal which is now 6,708 meter square will be enlarged to be 58.000 meter square. Meanwhile, the old apron with 29,032 meter square width with the capacity of 10 small body aircrafts will be developed into 72.522 meter square which has capacity for 10 narrow-body aircrafts and 3 wide-body aircrafts.
“In cooperation with the regional and provincial government, we need 15 years to finish the project,” he said, adding that the new Ahmad Yani Airport construction takes the concept of Floating Airport.
The newly built terminal, Sulistyo said, will later able to accomodate 7 million passengers, while currently it has capacity only for 3.5 million passengers.
In response, the Vice President affirmed that government is speeding up a number of airport projects including Ahmad Yani Airport Semarang, considering the increasing need of air transport.
The Vice President further expected that the new airport be better than the existing now.
“I wish Ahmad Yani Airport is build as optimally, accurately, and efficiently as possible to better serve the people,” he said.
Accompanying the Vice President at the visit were Mrs. Mufidah Jusuf Kalla, Research, Technology, and Higher Education Minister M. Nasir, Central Java Deputy Governor Heru Sudjatmoko, and General Manager of Ahmad Yani Airport Priyo Jatmiko.