Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (Antara NTT) - The national airport management company PT. Angkasa Pura I will soon expand El Tari Airport in Kupang city, East Nusa Tenggara province, by adding an air bridge and expanding the passenger waiting room.
"We will add two air bridges and expand the waiting room to one and a half level," Wahyudi, General Manager of Angkasa Pura I at El Tari Airport, said here on Wednesday.
He stated that the initial phase of land measurements has already begun, while the installation of foundation pile will begin in July 2017.
Wahyudi explained that the airport`s capacity was currently inadequate to accommodate the number of passengers, which increases over time.
Currently, the number of passengers departing and arriving at the airport reaches up to 5 thousand per day. Meanwhile, every year, the airport accommodates 1.9 million passengers, exceeding its capacity of 1.3 million passengers per year.
He noted that the passenger growth at El Tari had reached 27.26 percent in 2016.
The airport expansion move was to support the government`s efforts to encourage international flights at East Nusa Tenggara.
The central government seeks to provide a stimulus package for foreign tourists visiting Indonesia using a charter flight. "The stimulus package is in the form of bonuses of up to US$30 per passenger who arrives on a charter flight," Wahyudi remarked.
In addition, Angkasa Pura has also been instructed to set up stimulus packages during landing, take off, and air parking, hoping to meet its target of 15 million tourist visits in 2017.
Angksa Pura to expand El Tari Airport
El Tari Airport in Kupang, NTT
"We will add two air bridges and expand the waiting room to one and a half level," Wahyudi, General Manager of Angkasa Pura I at El Tari Airport, said.
