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This is probably the best news for travellers in transit or travelling to and from Jakarta…
JAKARTA- This is probably the best news for travellers in transit or travelling to and from Jakarta. On May 24, the President of Airports operator Angkasa Pura performed the ground-breaking ceremony to the official expansion of Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International Airport (SHIA). Construction work is due to start in July at the world’s 13th busiest airport, which saw in 2011 some 48 million passengers passing through its three terminals. The current capacity at Jakarta is in fact only for 24 million passengers. Authorities have indeed been slow to anticipate or cope with a booming traffic, consequent to the surge in living standard and the development of low cost airlines. The first phase of the project will include the expansion of the third terminal and the construction of an access road, a cargo terminal and a new integrated building linking the three terminals.
The expansion is due for completion in 2014, will then give room for 62 million passengers annually while the number of positions on the apron will grow from 125 to 174 aircraft. The central building, linking Terminals 1 and 2, has been locally designed by Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). It will work as a “one-stop service” centre, integrating check-in facilities but a shopping centre, a hotel,offices and a car park for 20,000 vehicles. Named “Aerotropolis”, the new building will be linked by a people’s mover to both Terminal 1 and 2. restaurants, a hotel, offices and a convention center, as well as enough parking for up to 20,000 cars. Total investments will come at US$ 1.27 billion. Jakarta international airport is due to attain “world-class status” by 2015, the year set for ASEAN integrated economic community.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
