Banyuwangi to get new airport

BANYUWANGI, East Java: Construction of a new airport here is expected to begin early next year despite an earlier postponement of the plan.

"The (central) government has agreed (to build the new airport) because it was not part of the list of projects reviewed due to the monetary crisis," East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman said as quoted by Antara Thursday.

"We wish to turn Banyuwangi into a significant tourist destination because of its great potential and its closeness to the island of Bali," he added.

The airport would likely be used as a transit point for Jakarta-Surabaya-Denpasar flights.

According to Basofi, district authorities have acquired the land from local residents so construction could start early next year.

The Banyuwangi Airport was originally scheduled to be built in 1984. But the project was postponed because the survey team could not decide which of the 12 locations in the district would be the best site.

The government finally chose a 10 hectare area in Blimbingsari village, Bogojampi subdistrict, Basofi said.

No details on the cost of the project were given.