In a race to prepare for October’s IMF-World Bank Annual Meeting, state airport operator Angkasa Pura (AP) I is set to begin construction on the expansion of Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.The high-level meeting will see Bali welcome 17,000 delegates from 189 countries. Guests will include heads of state, central bank governors and ministers, among others.
AP I president director Faik Fahmi said the company was set to disburse Rp 2.1 trillion (S$200 million) for the expansion of the airport.
“According to the time frame, by April 26 we should begin construction,” Faik said recently.
In February, an Antara news report said the expansion will include the aprons in the western and eastern sides of the airport to allow for more parking areas for large jets. The VIP I and VIP II terminals in the western side of the airport would be moved to the eastern side near the international cargo terminal.
The work will expand the existing airport by 47.9 hectares, mainly through reclamation from the sea and adjoining beach area. The additional parking lots were viewed as urgent because the airport could not yet meet the demand from around 70 domestic and international airlines serving flights to Bali, the Antara report said.
The new airport is intended to boost air traffic with an additional capacity of 32 million passengers to support the already congested main tourism gateway of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. It will also even out tourism growth between southern and northern Bali.
Source&image: THE STRAITS TIMES
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