TO SUPPORT the growth of passenger traffic of eight per cent year-on-year, the Indonesia Ministry of Transportation is focusing on improving the infrastructure in the country.
Ignatius Jonan, minister of transportation, said: “We are allotting budget of US$1 billion to improve transportation next year. This is the biggest budget for a single year we have ever had, showing the government’s commitment.”
In terms of infrastructure development, Johan said that the 237 airports in Indonesia would either have their runways extended, or have their terminals developed and expanded. The ministry also plans to build 15 new airports by 2018.
He elaborated: “Out of the 237 airports at least 100 of them will be able to cater at least the Boeing 737-800 or Airbus 320, and at least 200 airports will be able to cater for the Hercules C130 and similar aircraft.”
Johan also challenged the industry to increase their aircraft capacity, where those “flying smaller aircraft must work to use bigger ones”.
