INDUSTRY.co.id - Pontianak- The government has made the Supadio Airport, Pontianak, as a sub-connector to a number of cities in Kalimantan and Indonesia in general and also to neighboring countries so as to develop the economic potential and tourism of the island.

"Expansion of Supadio Airport is the government's commitment to develop West Kalimantan specifically and Kalimantan in general to be able to develop the existing potential," said Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi to media crews in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Thursday (28/12/2017)

This was stated by the Minister of Transportation before President Joko Widodo inaugurated the expansion and construction of domestic and international terminal of Supadio Airport.

The airport expansion is considered important and strategic considering the airport in Pontianak has been the subhub of several flights to several cities in Kalimantan and other islands in Indonesia as well as to a number of countries such as Malaysia and Singapore.

The expansion of the airport in the western city of Kalimantan, said Minister of Transportation, is also a form of government consistency in realizing Nawacita which one of them build infrastructure in an effort to encourage regional and national economy.

Supadio Airport expansion, added Budi, is also the direction of President Joko Widodo who wants Pontianak can be a subhub a number of flights from and into the country and abroad, given the passenger traffic every year continues to grow.

"Of course, the expansion of this airport to capture the increasing number of passengers who fly and arrive at Supadio airport, so that passengers can be comfortable," he said.

Meanwhile, President Director of PT Angkasa Pura II, Muhammad Awaluddin, said the expansion of Soepadio Airport has been started since 2015 and completed in August 2017, with an investment of Rp350 billion, specifically for terminal development.

"In addition to the construction of new domestic and international terminals, we also provide gardabarata facilities as well as the expansion of apron and parking of passenger vehicles," said Muhammad Awaluddin.

The airport terminal is expanded from 13,683 square meters to 32,000 square meters, with 1.5 million passengers per year now accommodating 3.8 million passengers annually.

Likewise the runway which currently reaches 2.250x45 meters is upgraded to 2.650x45 meters and will be upgraded to 3.000x45 meters next year.

Added, the airport expansion is also to answer the increasing passenger traffic as well as the increasing number of airlines abroad such as Air Asia and Xpress Air.

The AP II side, he said, could still expand and build a new terminal for Supadio Airport considering it still has vacant land.