Banjarbaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - President Director of PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero) Faik Fahmi declared, the Syamsudin Noor Banjarmasin International Airport is ready to welcome passengers from all over the world to come to South Kalimantan.
"The size and capacity of the new Syamsudin Noor Airport can bring all air passengers from all over the world to South Kalimantan," he said after prayer (doa) ritual with 2,000 orphan in Banjarbaru on Sunday (Dec 8, 2019).
The doa ritual with thousands of orphans from Islamic boarding schools and orphanages took place ahead of operational for the new airport which is scheduled to be on December 10, 2019.
He said, right now flight slots are availabe for airlines operating from and to Banjarmasin in addition to a total of 11 airlines that serve air passengers in the airport.
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Then, coupled with international route for Umrah and Hajj flights, making it possible for Syamsudin Noor International Airport to attract airlines.
"The Syamsudin Noor International Airport certainly can be operated to support connectivity that facilitate air passengers from all-over the world visiting Banjarmasin more comfortably," he remarked.
On the other hand, the construction of the new Syamsudin Noor Airport is one form of PT Angkasa Pura I's support for the South Kalimantan's program in tourism.
The South Kalimantan Provincial Government has positioned tourism as a priority program for 2016-2021 and 32 tourism activities in 2020 are ready to attract national and international tourist arrivals.
"The discourse of tens of tourist agenda has made the Provincial Government put a target of attracting one million domestic tourists and 100 thousand foreign tourist by the year 2020," he pointed out.
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To note, the expansion project of Syamsudin Noor Airport is one part of the National Strategic Porject (PSN) has been mandated by the government to Angkasa Pura I.
The aim to overcome the problem of lack of capacity and build a new terminal with an area of 77,569 square meters or eight times wider than the old one which has an area of 9,043 square meters.
The project includes the construction of land side covering a new terminal and cargo building as well as air side which covers the expansion of apron.
The new terminal has a capacity of 7 million passengers per year or five times wider than the old terminal. It is also suppported by 42 check-in counters, 3 conveyor belts, and a 5,185 square meters waiting room.
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The parking area is much capacious than the old terminal. It has 34,360 square meters for cars and 2,420 meter for two wheel vehicles.
While the new cargo terminal has a capacity of 44.000 tons per year from the existing one of 22.297 ton per year.
As for the apron is increased to 129.812 square meters and able to accomodate 16 narrow body aircrafts from previously 80.412 square meter and could only accomodate 8 narrow body aircrafts.
