TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential Secretary Pramono Anung said the construction of Kediri Airport in East Java could begin in 2019 since the permission has been completed.

“Hopefully, if everything goes well, the Kediri Airport construction can be started in 2019,” said Pramono, as cited from official page setkab.go.id Wednesday, May 30.

Pramono asked the citizen to support the land acquisition efforts and hoped that this time, no one would disturb the people of Kediri for having an airport.

He believes the airport construction from PT Gudang Garam will positively affect the economy of Kediri City. In the future, Pramono hopes the economy rotation is not concentrated only on certain areas such as in Sidoarjo and Surabaya.

"But in Kediri resident area also will improve,” he added.

Following the land acquisition problem, Pramono explained that the Minister of Transportation has issued the permits for the airport construction, as well as TNI (military) Air Force that has provided their recommendation.

Previously, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said the land acquisition in Tarokan District, which will be the location of the new airport, has reached 80 percents.

In the initial step, the runway base will be built along the 2,400 meter, enough for the operation of the commercial plane Boeing 737. But in the future, this airport will be maximized for the runway base of Boeing 777.

Adam Prireza