Minister Of Transportation Reviewing The Locations Of Prospective New Airports To Support The New National Capital

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi (center) while reviewing the location of the prospective New Airport to Support the National Capital (IKN) which is located in Penajam District, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan (Kemenhub)

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi inspected the location of the prospective New Airport to Support the National Capital (IKN) which is located in Penajam District, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province.

From Balikpapan, the Minister of Transportation took a helicopter to the location of the prospective new airport together with the Governor of East Kalimantan Isran Noor, the Head of the IKN Development Task Force Danis Sumadilaga, and the Director General of Civil Aviation Novie Riyanto.

The Minister of Transportation explained that he had conducted research or studies on determining the location of a prospective new airport whose location was very strategic, which was between the IKN area and Balikpapan.

"This location will be connected by toll roads, both from Balikpapan and IKN," said Budi Karya in his statement quoted by Antara, Monday, February 21.

Budi Karya explained that the new airport will have a runway length of 3000 meters x 45 meters, and can accommodate large-bodied aircraft such as the Boeing 777.

The Minister of Transportation is optimistic that the new airport can be completed in 2024.

"Looking at the situation on the ground and the experience of building a YIA Airport of the same size, it can be implemented," he said.

The Minister of Transportation also expressed his gratitude to the Governor of East Kalimantan, KemenPUPR, TNI, POLRI, and other related elements, who have collaborated to provide guidance in the research to determine the candidate points for the new IKN airport.

"This point is in accordance with the road network planned by KemenPUPR and Bappenas," he said.

The Minister of Transportation said that he would coordinate with the Indonesian Air Force regarding collaboration in the use of the IKN airport for commercial purposes with military interests.

Previously, the Minister of Transportation also held a coordination meeting with the ranks of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Regional Government, and other related elements at Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Airport, to discuss the readiness of the air transportation sector to support the IKN transfer plan.