CENTRALBATAM.CO.ID, BINTAN-The Regent of Bintan, Ansar Ahmad say, areal of the airport project is ready to start the operation.
“The airport is projected to open by 2017. Gallant Venture is serious about making this project happen as it has been publicized everywhere,” Bintan Regent, Ansar Ahmad said lately
According to Ansar, the airport will also serve as a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) workshop, managed by Garuda Maintenance Facility.
“The airport management has signed a memorandum of understanding with Garuda Indonesia to build the MRO there,”explained Ansar.
In mid-2012, PT Bintan Resort Cakrawala, developer of the Lagoi tourism region, commenced building the airport in Busung, Bintan Island, Riau Islands, at a cost of US$100 million.
The airport, the first and biggest special airport built in Indonesia, was earlier planned to operate by 2015, but due to a number of obstacles, it was delayed.
PT Bintan Resort Cakrawala general manager Abdul Wahab said in the initial stage, a 3,000-meter long runway, would be built on the airport’s 1,000-hectare site.
“Currently, contruction progress is at around 15 percent completion and we plan to complete the project by 2017,” explained Wahab.
The Lagoi tourism region is currently home to 13 premium-class hotels, offering daily rates ranging from $120 to $3,000. The resort is dominated by tourists from Singapore, Malaysia, China and Europe.
Writer : Setianus Zai
