“The airport has been built since 2011, but we intensified efforts to complete it last year. This airport was very important to support the plantation, mining, and tourism industries in Sintang, Sekadau, Senggau, and Melawi," Sumadi noted during the inauguration of the airport by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Wednesday.
Sumadi later remarked that Tebelian Airport can be developed in future to have a runway measuring 2,200 meters, from the current 1,820 meters.
"Currently, this airport's runway is specifically for ATR planes. If we can extend the runway, then narrow-bodied 737 aircraft can land here," the minister explained.
Sumadi noted that the Ministry of Transportation had built Tebelian Airport, with a budget of Rp580 billion. Meanwhile, land for the airport, covering an area of 153 hectares, was provided by the Sintang District Government
This airport is the infrastructure for boosting air connectivity in West Kalimantan, which is one of the leading provinces near the Malaysia border. Tebelian Airport is also built to replace Susilo Airport, which can no longer be developed.
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During the inauguration, President Jokowi expressed optimism that Tebelian Airport would be able to serve the rising air transportation needs of the community. The president said the airport can accommodate the needs of 75 thousand passengers per year.
The president stated that amid the increasing competition between countries, Indonesia should move faster. Hence, smooth connectivity is one of the keys.
"We must be able to make inter-provincial, inter-regional, and inter-district connectivity easier and more affordable for the community, so that new economic centers will grow in various regions," Jokowi affirmed.
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Translator: Indra A P, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
