TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - East Java Governor Soekarwo plans to finish the expansion of Surabaya's Juanda International Airport and its two addition runways by June 2019. Construction of the additiona,l supporting infrastructure, is slated to begin in the third quarter (Q3) of 2016.

"We hope that all physical construction could be finished by then, so the airport could be fully operational by mid-2019," said Soekarwo to Tempo, April 23, 2016.

Soekarwo explained that the construction of two runways by PT Angkasa Pura I - as Juanda Airport's operator - will require the reclamation of some 4 kilometre stretch of land along Java's northern coastline. The additional construction is expected to increase the capacity of the airport to serve up to 70 million passengers annually.

"We will ensure that the reclamation will meet all requirements as set out by existing regulations - so that it won't cause problems once the project begins," said Soekarwo.

Furthermore, Juanda Airport will be designed to be as an airport city and an Ultimate Terminal concept - where passengers and visitors alike could enjoy the facilities that will be provided once the Terminal is completed.

"We will build a shopping concourse and a recreational space - which will be located in the basement area of the airport," said Soekarwo, who also said that bidding for the project has been opened, but refused to comment on which companies have agreed to fund the project.

"I can't tell you who the investors are yet - neither can I say anything about the budget required," said Soekarwo.

6,000 hectares of land have been prepared for the expansion of Juanda Airport - where in 1,500 hectares will be used to construct two additional runways, and Juanda Airport's Terminal 3, while the remaining area will be used to construct the Airport City and the Ultimate Terminal Building.

EDWIN FAJERIAL