Kupang (Antara NTT) - The government of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province is in need of a 500-hectare plot of land to build an airport of international standard, according to provincial Transportation Office Chief Richard Djami.
"The local government is exploring the land in Kupang District where the international airport will be built to replace the El Tari Airport that functions as a military air base," Djami remarked here on Saturday.
He explained that the local government was keen to build a new airport since the El Tari Airport serves as a military air base.
Hence, he said the local government will continue to negotiate with the land owners in order to reach an agreement.
Apart from building a new international airport in NTT, the national airport management company PT Angkasa Pura I will also expand the El Tari Airport 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 the El Tari Airport, said here recently.
He stated that the initial phase of measuring the area has already begun, while the installation of the foundation pile will start in July 2017.
Wahyudi explained that the airport was currently unable to accommodate the number of passengers, which continues to increase over time.
Currently, up to five thousand passengers depart from and arrive at the airport. Meanwhile, every year, the airport accommodates 1.9 million passengers, exceeding its capacity of 1.3 million passengers per year.
