TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned airline operator Angkasa Pura I (AP I) is still further discussing the management plan of Kediri Airport before signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with cigarette manufacturer Gudang Garam.

Faik Fahmi, president director of AP I, explained his office was still discussing several work patterns with the tobacco giant. He pinned hope the investment would be fully used for the development.

“We intensively communicate with them [Gudang garam] and Transportation Ministry. This is one of our priorities,” said Faik on Thursday, September 13.

Read: AP2 Helps Gudang Garam Designs Kediri Airport

The airport, he added, would be surely constructed by Gudang Garam but the operator must obtain a certificate of the airport business entity (BUBU). In Indonesia, only AP I and AP II have owned the permit.

According to Faik, AP I is strategically feasible to manage the airports located in Indonesia's central regions. Therefore, he planned to integrate the airport in Kediri and Juanda Airport in Surabaya.

Faik assessed that the airport has a huge potential considering it would have a large airside capacity of 3,250 meters-long runway. The runway would able to accommodate either single-aisle aircraft or twin-aisle aircraft and so it is possible to cater Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage.

“Moreover, the trend of Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage in East Java is pretty high, while on the other hand, Juanda Airport is fully packed already,” Faik added. Aside from that, Kediri could be a new gate for international flight routes entering East Java as to boost the tourism industry.

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