TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-run airport operatorAngkasa Pura II has officially kicked off the expansion of Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung in a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, September 29, 2014.
The project, which is valued at Rp139 billion, aims at expanding the airport's annual passenger handling capacity from 750,000 to 3.4 million.
"We aim at finishing the expansion of Husein Airport by September 2015," said Angkasa Pura II executive director Tri S. Sunoko on Monday.
Angkasa Pura II has appointed Waskita Karya and Yodya Jarya as the project developers. Both will be in charge of renovating and expanding the terminal building from the current 5,000 square meters to 17,000 square meters—effectively multiplying the terminal's passenger handling capacity.
According to Tri, the amount of passengers utilizing Husein Airport as their gateway continues to increase. In 2013, 2.46 million passengers went through the airport. This year, 3.08 million passengers passed through Bandung's main aviation gateway. "As a result, delays became more frequent and massive queues at check-in counters can be observed daily," said Tri.
Apart from the expansion of the terminal, the design of the terminal will also be revamped with a "traditional yet modern" concept. The roofline of the terminal will be designed to resemble traditional West Javanese homes and kujang—a traditional Sundanese weapon.
Indigo have been chosen as the dominant colour for Husein Airport, as it is the colour of the tarum plant from which the indigo dye traditionally is derived from.
Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil said that the identity of the city would be reflected in the airport's design - which will be characterised by Sundanese architecture. "Although this airport is small in size, it packs quite a punch. Once completed, it will be the face of Bandung," he said.
RISANTI | AHMAD FIKRI