Ahead Of Jokowi's Inauguration, Minister Of Transportation Review Ewer Airport Services In South Papua

South Papua's Ewer Airport. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Transportation)

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi conducted a direct visit to Ewer Airport in Agats District, Asmat Regency, South Papua.

The arrival of Minister of Transportation Budi Karya to check airport airport facilities before being inaugurated by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Thursday, July 6.

Checks are carried out starting from runways, aprons, passenger terminals, to operational buildings and services running well.

"This airport was first built by the Asmat Regency Government and then the central government developed it. Now at least five to seven planes are taking off and landing at Ewer airport," he said in an official statement, Wednesday, July 5.

With the operation of Ewer Airport, said Budi, it is hoped that it can help the Asmat community in mobility for various purposes.

"The government will continue to build and develop transportation infrastructure in the Papua region to increase connectivity between regions," he said.

Through this development, continued Budi, it is hoped that it can encourage economic growth and equitable development to remote areas, as well as hack the isolation of disadvantaged, frontier, outermost, and border areas (3TP) in Eastern Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Asmat Regent Elisa Kambu expressed his gratitude for the support of the central government in building Ewer Airport, which makes accessibility easier for the Asmat community.

"On behalf of the Asmat community and the Asmat Regency Government, we would like to thank the President for assigning the Minister of Transportation to help provide facilities in Asmat. One of the biggest is completing Ewer airport," he said.

With the presence of Ewer Airport which can accommodate ATR 72-600 aircraft, he said, the Asmat community can easily come and go by airplane.

"The presence of this airport is very helpful. It wasn't as difficult as a few years ago before the airport, we had difficulty accessing it, especially if someone died. Thank you, we have also received tariff subsidies. One week there were five trips ranging from Merauke, Kamur, and Ewer," he said.

For your information, from 2014 to 2018 the development of Ewer airport began with the extension of the runway by the Asmat Regional Government to 1,650 m. Then, a steel mat runway reconstruction was also carried out, apron construction, and terminal building construction.

Furthermore, in 2019 the airport will continue to be developed so that access is easier and more complete facilities. Then, in 2023, a terminal building beautification will be carried out with a minimalist architecture with Asmat cultural nuances.

Not only the ornaments are Asmat nuanced, but in terms of adjusting to the culture of the community as well as weather conditions and characteristics of the Asmat environment.

The development of Ewer airport is still ongoing, including the construction of drainage and flood-retaining embankments.

Ewer Airport has a runway length of 1650 meters times 30 meters which can be passed by ATR 72-600 for passengers and cargo, an apron of 70 m x 90 m and a taxiway of 86 meters times 15 meters, and has an airport terminal of 488 m2 or wider than the old terminal of 120 m2.

Currently serving three flight routes, including Kamar-Ewer PP, Timika-Ewer PP, and Merauke-Ewer PP, which are served by 3 three airlines, namely Wings Air, Trigana Air, and Smart Aviation.

It is noted that the trend of passengers also continues to increase, from 12,185 passengers in 2020, rising to 21,603 passengers in 2021 and 27,772 passengers in 2022.