New Indonesian airports face delays, Lombok airport launch behind schedule

Lombok International Airport, originally scheduled for a three-month trial from end-March, has run into delays.

Speaking to Anantara News Agency, West Nusa Tenggara?s Transportation, Communication and Information Office manager Baharudin attributed the delay to land issues concerning the bypass connecting the airport to the rest of Lombok.

The provincial government has allocated 110 billion rupiah (US$11.7 million) to develop the airport, which will have a 1,750m runway and a 12,000m2 passenger terminal.

Meanwhile, North Sumatra?s much-anticipated KNIA airport has yet to receive government approval for funding.

Indonesia director general of air communication Herry Bakti Gumay told Bisnis Indonesia the project still needed two trillion rupiah for it to be completed in 2011.

Funds were to come from the 2010 and 2011 national budgets, but only 600 billion rupiah had been approved in the 2010 budget. ?We have requested for an additional budget of between 600 billion and one trillion rupiah for the year,? said Gumay. If the increment is approved, the remainder would be submitted for the 2011 budget.

Gumay added his team would review the airport?s design to find ways of minimising cost.

When completed, KNIA will replace the existing Polonia Airport in Medan.

Sourced = The TTG TravelHub