New big airport to open in June

PADANG, West Sumatra: Padang's new international airport with a capacity of more than 1.2 million passengers is expected to start operating by June this year.

Minister of Transportation Hatta Radjasa said on Sunday the construction of Minangkabau International Airport would be finished in April, and management transfer from the old Tabing Airport would be completed two months after.

The 1.3-hectare airport with a 2,750 meter runway would be able to accommodate large aircraft such as the Airbus A-300 and Boeing MD-II. -- JP