"Currently there are only direct flight between the country`s largest airport and airports in 30 countries," AP II President Director Budi Karya Sumadi said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II said there would be direct flights between Jakartas Soekarno Hatta airport and airports in more than 70 countries in 2017 after the operation of the Terminal 3 Ultimate.
"Currently there are only direct flight between the countrys largest airport and airports in 30 countries," AP II President Director Budi Karya Sumadi said here on Thursday.
Next year with the completion of the new terminal direct flights are expected to link the airport with 70 countries, Budi said.
He said Soekarno Hatta should be able to overtake Malaysias Kualalumpur airport, which already has regular direct flights with airports in 70 countries.
"We hope to be able to catch up with Kuala Lumpur , but it is a long way to go to catch up with Singapores Changi, which already has regular direct flights with 100 other countries," he said.
Budi said in order to reach the target in 2017, airport services and facilities have to be improved.
All supporting factors have to be improved including security, convenience , interconnections, immigration service and guarantee in aviation gas supply, he said.
He said Soekarno Hatta is not inferior to Changi in use of sophisticated technology , therefore it should not too difficult to compete with other airport in Asia.
"The biggest job now is to make Soekarno-Hatta airport a tourist gate and transit airport through intensive campaign internationally.
"We have to change Jakarta orientation into a transit city, but first we must be able to offer competitive services and facilities," he said.
The new terminal built at a cost of Rp7.5 trillion would have the capacity to accommodate b25 million passengers a year.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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