Ngada to have new airport

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The regency of Ngada plans to build an airport in Marapokot next year when its capital is moved from Bajawa to Mbay.

Spokesman for the Ngada government Thimtius Mesakh Hermanus said Saturday that Minister of Transportation Haryanto Danutirto had endorsed the plan.

Haryanto, Thimtius said, stated that the project could be completed by 1999, Antara reported.

Thimtius said the planned airport will be able to be used by Fokker and Indonesian-built CN-235 aircraft. Ngada now has an airport in Soa, about 20 kilometers east of Bajawa, which can be used by small planes like the Twin Otter.(pan)