Batam to compete with Changi as int'l flight hub<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Hang Nadim Airport on Batam Island, Riau, which
\ncan now accommodate jumbo jets, is ready to compete with
\nSingapore's Changi Airport as an international transport hub.<\/p>\n
Director General of Air Transportation Zainuddin Sikado said
\nthat the price of aviation fuel on Batam, located some 20
\nkilometers southeast of Singapore, is 20 percent cheaper than in
\nSingapore.<\/p>\n
\"It's still hard, however, for international air carriers to
\ntransit at Hang Nadim, as the flow of goods and passengers is
\nstill low,\" Sikado said.<\/p>\n
Hang Nadim, whose runway has been extended from 3,600 meters
\nto 4,000m, can now accommodate Boeing 747-400 jets. A B-747
\naircraft owned by Garuda Indonesia landed safely at the airport
\non Sunday.<\/p>\n
Hang Nadim, which will be officially inaugurated by President
\nSoeharto on Dec. 11, now boasts a 170,000-square-meter apron, an
\n80,000-sq-m passenger terminal and a 48,600-sq-m cargo building.<\/p>\n
The airport will be operated as an international airport for
\nboth scheduled and chartered passenger and cargo flights. A
\nnumber of cargo services to Asian countries (Malaysia, Thailand,
\nJapan, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong), Europe (the Netherlands,
\nGermany, Switzerland and France) and Australia will be originate
\nfrom Hang Nadim, the Antara news agency reported yesterday.<\/p>\n
Batam has been developed since the early 1970s as an
\nindustrial and tourist center. Hang Nadim airport is located on
\nthe east coast of the island, which is overseen by the Batam
\nIndustrial Development Authority. The Batam authority is chaired
\nby State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
Services<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing will be how Batam improves the
\nquality of its services,\" Sikado said in relation to the current
\nlow level of traffic passing through the airport.<\/p>\n
There are currently 11 domestic flights to and from Batam each
\nday. Twelve additional domestic destinations are due to be served
\nfrom the airport during the current Sixth Five-Year Development
\nPlan period, which ends in March 1999.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto told
\nreporters after meeting with President Soeharto yesterday that
\nthe flight information region (FIR) of Hang Nadim airport will be
\ncontrolled by Changi Airport in Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"This is a kind of joint operation, as the two airports are
\nlocated very close to one another,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that Hang Nadim will welcome any air carriers.<\/p>\n
\"President Soeharto has even offered the American cargo
\ncompany Federal Express -- through U.S. Secretary of
\nTransportation Federico Pena, who visited Indonesia recently --
\nthat it make Batam its hub in Asia,\" he added. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/batam-to-compete-with-changi-as-intl-flight-hub-1447893297",
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