Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan (Antaranews) - The number of Umrah pilgrims departing from Syamsudin Noor Banjarmasin Airport is the second most nationally and the number continues to increase every year.
Based on the data, said General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I Banjarmasin, Akhmad Munir at a meeting with members of Commission V of the House of Representatives in Banjarmasin, on Monday, the number of Umrah pilgrims from South Kalimantan as many as 12,267 people in 2012 and in 2013 increased to 15,536 people.
"In 2014 to July, number of Umrah pilgrims has reached 11,598 people and is expected reached 15 thousand by the end of the year," he said.
The high number of Umrah pilgrims, he added, became one of the drivers of the development and expansion of Syamsudin Noor Airport.
In 2009, the number of passenger arrivals at Syamsudin Noor only 1,005,239 people and the departure of 1,022,686 people, and in 2013 the number of passengers coming become 1,017,963 and of departure 1,930,294.
The number of aircraft arrivals also rose sharply. In 2009 the number of aircraft arrival 9,538 times and departure 9,539 times, and in 2013 number of arrival 16,041 times and departure 16,042 times.
With the increasing number of passengers and cargo in Syamsudin Noor, PT Angkasa Pura I and the Government of South Kalimantan pursue development and expansion of the airport.
"The construction of the airport should have been implemented in 2009, but only started in 2010, and in 2014 will be the laying of the first stone," said Munir to commission V of the House of Representatives.
The development plan, he added, the previous terminal covers only 6,641 square meters to be developed to 125 thousand square meters or increased up to 1.782 percent, while the previous terminal capacity of 1.3 million pax now to 10 million pax or increased up to 669 percent.
While the mosque which was previously only 200 m2 to 1,155 m2, there is no avio bridge initially now it has five units, the check-in counter from 20 units to 40 units, terminal parking area from 4,579 sqm to 36 450 sqm and a previous parking capacity of 155 units now become 1,164 units.
Editor : Mahdani
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