Menhub Puji Ruang VVIP Halim Perdanakusuma, Disamakan Dengan Hotel Bintang 5

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi in front of the naratetama (VVIP) building of Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta/ (ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia)

JAKARTA - The waiting room for naratetama (VVIP) at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force National Army Base (Lanud) Jakarta is already at the level of a five-star hotel.

"In my opinion, this is like a 'five star hotel', very good, no less than airports like myself (never) going to Korea, Europe, Japan, Singapore, this 'VVIP' room is much better," said Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Wednesday, October 5.

President Joko Widodo has inaugurated the revitalization of facilities in the Indonesian Air Force National Army Base (Lanud)/Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

Budi Karya admitted that he had 6 months to revitalize facilities at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport starting from runway revitalization, water management to VVIP buildings to receive state guests.

"For your information, if there are state guests, we must carry out a'special treatment' for the movement of 'take off' and 'landing', there is an hour that must stop at the airport. What if the frequency of our state guests or VVIP is in Soekarno-Hatta? So the movement in Soekarno Hatta will be disrupted," said Budi Karya as quoted by Antara.

Moreover, judging from the security side, Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base is considered the safest place to receive state guests.

"So there are many considerations, and the direction of the President is that Halim is the same or better than other airports in Indonesia," added Budi Karya.

What's more, Indonesia is currently hosting the G20 event and from October to November 2022 it will receive many state guests, including heads of state and government of other countries.

"This is for the G20 and so on, Mr. President, Mr. Vice President is routinely here. So imagine if the President alternates 3 days a week past here, it means four times our VVIP 2," said Budi Karya.

If the President and the Vice President use Soekarno-Hatta Airport, they need a 4-hour specialization for air routes, while within one hour of flight at Soekarno-Hatta Airport there are at least 86 flights.

"So there are 4 x 86 movements that are delayed, approximately almost 350. Of course, one side for the VVIP is less 'convenient' (comfortable) or less'safety', for the general public, the service is going down, you have to wait an hour. Now VVIP, say once a week, the President and the Vice President 4 times or a total of 8 times," added Budi Karya.

Moreover, the repair of the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base runway can accommodate large-body aircraft including the Boeing 777.

"It is definitely safer here and we have calculated the air space, we have calculated everything," said Budi Karya.

President Jokowi on January 19, 2022 signed Presidential Regulation No. 9 of 2022 concerning the Revitalization of the Indonesian Air Force National Army Base Facilities/Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

The contents of the Presidential Regulation are directly appointed three State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) namely PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk, PT PP (Persero) Tbk, and PT Indah Karya (Persero) to revitalize facilities at the Air Force Base and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

The revitalization tasks include: (1) runway restoration (runway) and taxiway, (2) increase the parking capacity (apron) of naratetama aircraft (VVIP) and naratama (VIP); (3) renovation of naratetama and naratama buildings; (4) renovation of operating buildings; (5) improvement of the drainage system in air bases/airports; and (6) other facilities that need to be adjusted due to revitalization work.