Maiden operation of new airport delayed

PADANG, West Sumatra: The maiden operation of a new international airport in Padang, West Sumatra, which was set for Friday, has been delayed indefinitely, a senior official at the state-run airport operator, PT Angkasa Pura II, said on Friday.

The delay was made on the request of the management of the airport operator, said Yohannes, the head of the operations division at PT Angkasa Pura II.

"I have received a letter from Kasmin Kamil, the company's corporate secretary, that airport operations be delayed, but the letter did not give a reason for the delay," said Yohannes.

The Minangkabau International Airport is located some 300 meters off Padang beach. The airport, which has a 2,750-meter long runway, started construction four years ago.

The airport can accommodate large aircraft such as the Airbus 300. It is expected that more tourists will come to Padang after the airport starts operations. -- JP