TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Jakarta government’s plans to build Ali Sadikin Airport on one of the islands from the coastal reclamation in Jakarta Bay has received a warm welcome. Dudi Sudibyo, an aviation observer, said the capital needed a third airport besides Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma.

He said the two existing airports were already struggling to accomodate flights from and to Jakarta. He added many airplanes often flew around in the sky just to wait for the runway to be cleared before landing.

“A new airport was previously considered to be built in Kertajati and Karawang. Ali Sadikin Airport may also be considered to support Soekarno-Hatta and Halim,” Dudi told Tempo on Wednesday.

Building an airport on a reclaimed land is also possible because many airports overseas are also built on reclaimed lands. “One example is Hong Kong International Airport. That airport was built by combing island and land,” said Dudi.

The idea to build Ali Sadikin Airport emerged when the Jakarta government was conducting reclamation in Jakarta Bay. Jakarta Development Planning Agency chief Andi Baso Mappapoleonro predicted that the airport construction would take around five years.

The estimation is based on the construction of Kansai International Airport in Osaka Bay, Japan, which took seven years and was built on reclaimed land. The construction process will be started by elevating the sea wall in Jakarta's north coast, which is targeted for completion this year. The elevation work is carried out by the Public Works Agency and property companies.

SUTJI DECILYA