Central Java Governor Bibit Waluyo announced on Thursday that the conversion of an air base into a new commercial airport to be called Wirasaba Airport in Purbalingga regency, was almost complete and that it would start operating soon.
Bibit said that although the Purbalingga administration had received approval in 2008 from the Air Force to convert the 115-hectare base, located in Wirasaba village, Bukateja district, into a commercial airport, the conversion work took longer than planned because of many technical obstacles.
According to Bibit one of Indonesia's pioneer airlines, Susi Air, has agreed to open a route from the new airport. Apart from Susi Air, the Purbalingga administration had also lobbied several airlines to open a route to the Wirasaba Airport, Bibit said.
“We have to plan it [the conversion] very well. We cannot be in a hurry with such a project because we do not want it to fail,” he told The Jakarta Post at the construction site on Thursday.
Susi Air sales operation officer Indra, who was also present at the site, said that his company currently only needed to complete administration requirements before operating at the new airport.
“We have examined the site and it is suitable for our airplanes,” Indra said.
Susi Air, he said, would open a route from Wirasaba Aiport to Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport in Jakarta. He said his company would operate 12-seater Cessna C208 B Grand Caravan planes. Susi Air, he added, had conducted a test flight, carrying Bambang Trihatmojo, son of former president Soeharto, and his family.
”The flight went smoothly without any significant obstacles,” he said.
At the site, Purbalingga Regent Heru Sudjatmoko told the Post that it took Rp 15 billion (US$1.56 million) to convert the base into a commercial airport. He said he had also cooperated with surrounding regencies such as Banyumas, Banjargnegara and Wonosobo during the project.
”The airport will lure more investors to the southern part of Central Java,” he said, adding that currently 19 foreign investors operated wig and fake eyelash businesses in his regency.
Source : The Jakarta Post
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