Meeting With Abu Dhabi Airports CEO, Minister of Transportation Offers Collaboration to Develop Kertajati Airport

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi offered Abu Dhabi Airports to become a strategic partner for the development of West Java International Airport (BIJB) Kertajati, in Majalengka Regency, West Java.

Budi made this offer when he met the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Suhail Mohammed Al Mazroei and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Abu Dhabi Airports Sheikh Mohammed, during his working visit to Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saturday, November 25.

"After this meeting, we hope that Abu Dhabi Airport will seize the opportunity for cooperation to develop Kertajati Airport, together with BIJB and AP II as airport managers," he said in an official statement, Monday, November 27.

Furthermore, Budi explained, Kertajati Airport is a new airport built to replace Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung, West Java.

"In grand design, Kertajati Airport will have cargo village, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, as well as commercial areas," said Budi.

Kertajati Airport, continued Budi, is also projected to become the second largest airport in Indonesia after Soekarno Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, which has potential markets for tourism, Umrah and Hajj, cargo and aerocity.

"Kertajati Airport will open up opportunities for strategic partners to buy shares with a maximum portion of 49 percent," he said.

During the meeting, Budi and Minister Suhail also explored opportunities for cooperation between Indonesian airlines and UAE airlines, to form a joint venture company to serve the domestic aviation market.

According to Budi, Minister Suhail expressed his interest in investing and exploring opportunities for cooperation with Indonesia, both in the fields of land, sea, air and rail transportation.