Semarang, Central Java (ANTARA) - The Transportation Minister, Budi Karya Sumadi, is tasked with completing Nusantara Airport to serve VIPs and state guests visiting the new capital city (IKN) in East Kalimantan for Indonesia's Independence Day ceremony on August 17.

"The Head of the Presidential Secretariat will lead the Independence Day ceremony at IKN. The Transportation Ministry was specifically assigned to prepare the IKN airport, now called Nusantara Airport," he conveyed in Semarang on Sunday.

Sumadi said that the travel time from Nusantara Airport to the Central Core Area or KIPP IKN is approximately 20 minutes.

"We will use this airport. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) also invited all ambassadors from friendly countries to fly from Jakarta to IKN," he added.

According to him, the progress of Nusantara Airport development is currently at around 50%, with heavy rain being a challenge.

"We've been conducting weather conditioning with weather modification technology (TMC) for the past two days. Yesterday, I received a good report so the construction can be accelerated," he remarked.

He ensured that the airport construction is currently still according to plan and is being carried out well.

The minister expressed optimism that the development of Nusantara Airport will go according to plan and be ready for a trial run in July 2024.

The Nusantara Airport has a terminal area of 7,350 meters square and an airport area of 347 hectares. The design concept for this airport terminal combines elements of local wisdom that emphasize Kalimantan culture and is environmentally friendly.

With a runway 3,000 meters long and 45 meters wide, Nusantara Airport can accommodate large-body aircraft, such as Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A380.

Sumadi will also apply for international registration of Nusantara Airport to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

In the future, Nusantara Airport will have an airport code name like other airports in Indonesia.

"Shortly, there will be a code name for Nusantara Airport, for example, NAP or others. We will look at codes that have not been used in other places," he disclosed.

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