Angkasa makes deal with Dutch firm to improve airports
Angkasa makes deal with Dutch firm to improve airports
JAKARTA (JP): The government has agreed to assign Amsterdam
Airport Schiphol from the Netherlands to assist PT Angkasa Pura
II in expanding commercial facilities at airports operated by the
state firm.
An Angkasa Pura executive, Soebagyo, told The Jakarta Post
yesterday that Schiphol has signed an agreement with his company
to check the feasibility of the project.
Under the agreement, signed by Angkasa Pura's president
Chusjairi and Schiphol's chairman H.N.J. Smits in the Netherlands
last December, the Dutch firm will supply management support for
the establishment of non-airport related commercial facilities.
This includes duty-free shops at the Soekarno-Hatta airport in
Jakarta and other airports managed by Angkasa Pura II, he said.
Angkasa Pura II manages nine airports, including Soekarno-
Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta, Tabing in Padang, West
Sumatra, S.M. Badaruddin in Palembang, South Sumatra, Supadio in
Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Polonia in Medan, North Sumatra,
Simpang Tiga in Pekan Baru, Riau, Husein Sastranegara in Bandung,
West Java and Blang Bintang in Banda Aceh, Aceh.
The agreement also covers the immediate improvement of
existing commercial facilities, establishing newly expanded
contracts and a business plan for the new activities.
Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto recently said
that supporting facilities at the Soekarno-Hatta airport have not
been developed properly.
He said that the international airport is not adequate because
it was designed as an arrival terminal but now serves as a
transit terminal for foreign passengers.
According to Haryanto, the opportunity for commercial
endeavors at Soekarno-Hatta is as bright as that at airports in
Singapore and Hong Kong.
He also said that an investment of about Rp 10 billion
(US$4.56 million) to Rp 15 billion will be needed to develop the
facilities.
Joint venture
Soebagyo said that Schiphol and Angkasa Pura II will probably
set up a joint operation or joint venture, depending on the
result of the feasibility study.
"Schiphol is an old partner in the Indonesian aviation
business," he said when asked why there had been no bidding.
He said that Schiphol, which will also develop a new airport
in Medan, North Sumatra in cooperation with PT Citra Lamtorogung,
was once named as the world's best airport management firm.
In a recent hearing with members of the House of
Representatives, Angkasa Pura II executives said that profits are
quite low because many air carriers have failed to pay airport
service fees on time.
Non-aviation related businesses are expected to raise Angkasa
Pura II's earnings as the company will benefit from aeronautics
services including aircraft, aviobridge, flight and passenger
services. Services including baggage, hangar and freight
forwarding will also play a part.
The company's profit of Rp 29.49 billion during the first half
of 1994 was small compared to its total assets of Rp 2.13
trillion. Angkasa Pura II, however, expects to double profits
from Rp 31.7 billion in 1993 to Rp 70.46 billion in 1994. They
want to increase this further to Rp 92.64 billion in 1995.(icn)