TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-run airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II (AP II) planned to open heliport facilities at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport complex in the near future. This was expected to trigger the recovery of the aviation industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic and increase airport competitiveness.

“The heliport will increase airport competitiveness at the regional level. Soekarno-Hatta Airport can provide more complete flight facilities,” said CEO Muhammad Awaluddin in his statement, Wednesday, August 12.

The heliport, which will be located on Jalan Perimeter Selatan, has an area of 2.7 hectares. According to Awaluddin, the facility will support alternative flight transportation using helicopters for tourists wishing to travel within short to medium routes.

Whitesky Aviation CEO Denon B. Prawiraatmadja said the airport’s heliport has been connected to 171 helipads in Jakarta. Most of the buildings that have a helipad are hotels, offices, and hospitals.

During this pandemic, said Denon, helicopter services were not only used for passenger transportation but also for health purposes. “Whiteskey, for example, provides Helicity for transportation and Helimedivac for medical purposes,” he explained.

Apart from preparing a heliport, AP II planned to soon open a four-star hotel in the airport area with 147 rooms and will be managed by the company's subsidiary, PT Angkasa Pura Propertindo.

Read also: Pandemic, AP II Shortens Operational Hours of 12 Airports

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA