INDUSTRY.co.id - Banyuwangi - Ministry of Transportation and Banyuwangi Government agreed to accelerate the development of Blimbingsari Airport, Banyuwangi. It was marked by the signing of cooperation between Director General of Air Transportation Ministry of Transportation Agus Santoso and Banyuwangi Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas.

"Banyuwangi Airport is a good development, so we are accelerated and this is also part of the implementation of Nawacita President Joko Widodo, which is to build strategic economic growth centers, Banyuwangi can be a driving force in East Java, where we set what to do by Both sides, "said Agus, Friday (08/18/2017).

A number of Banyuwangi Airport infrastructures are being built and upgraded by the end of this year. Among other things, the expansion apron (aircraft parking), the thickening of the runway, until the extension of the runway. "So it can be used for large-bodied aircraft type Boeing 737-900 NG (latest generation)," he said.

Funds of around Rp300 billion will be allocated for the development of these infrastructures. "The target is that all of August 2018 will be completed, because some aircraft finance ministers from all over the world will land in Banyuwangi for IMF and World Bank meeting in Bali.This is also opportunity for Banyuwangi which is also developing the opportunity of international flight later, it means there is prospect to be international airport, "Said Agus.

Agus said, Kemenhub will also speed up the synergy with state-owned airport operators PT Angkasa Pura II which will operate Banyuwangi Airport. "The letter from AP II I have received so this is because the prospect is interesting, then SOE AP II is interested to invest, the government would be happy, AP II will manage it," he said.

Meanwhile, Banyuwangi Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas expressed his gratitude for the commitment of the central government that continues to support the development of Banyuwangi. "I think this is a good synergy model, what can be done by the region, so we do it, not the central government intervened so all parallel and support each other," he said.

Anas said, next week, Banyuwangi Regency will sign the cooperation with AP II. "This is like a tit for all parties, from the Ministry of Transportation that has been very long to help Banyuwangi Airport to the Ministry of SOE which now commission AP II to help our airport management," said Anas.

The route to Banyuwangi is now served four times per day, ie three times from Surabaya by Garuda Indonesia and Wings Air, as well as one Jakarta-Banyuwangi route by NAM Air. From the end of this month there are two additional flights, namely Jakarta-Banyuwangi by Garuda and the additional frequency of the route by NAM Air.

The number of passengers also continued to soar. In 2011, the number of new passengers 7,826 people per year, then jumped to 1,339 percent to 112,661 people in 2016.