"Together with the West Java regional government, we reviewed the connectivity readiness at Kertajati Airport," he said in Majalengka, West Java, on Wednesday.
The airport has been equipped with facilities to support commercial aviation and is connected to the toll road for efficient access, he added.
He said the ease of accessibility will cut travel time to the airport, especially from Bandung City.
The minister further said he believes that with the airport's full operationalization, the number of flights will increase in time. For example, to accommodate more Umrah pilgrims with large market potential in Cirebon city and its surroundings.
According to him, almost 30–40 percent of Umrah flights in West Java depart from Kertajati Airport, including those carrying Hajj pilgrims.
"We have moved the Hajj flights to Kertajati with eight flights. Maybe in the future, we will add more," he informed.
Meanwhile, West Java acting governor Bey Triadi Machmudin said that Kertajati Airport's operator showed better preparation ahead of its full operationalization compared to last week.
In the near future, the airport management will only need to prepare supporting facilities such as tenant operations to provide more comfort to passengers.
"I asked the Kertajati Airport's director to immediately prepare the tenants because soon the airport will be packed with passengers," Machmudin added.
He said he is optimistic that the people of West Java will opt for Kertajati Airport for their travel needs. On October 29, all jet aircraft activities will be transferred to the airport from Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung.
"I am optimistic that the people of West Java will welcome Kertajati Airport," he added.
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Translator: Fathnur Rohman, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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