Maiden operation of new airport delayed

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