Newly Launched Mentawai Airport Can Accommodate ATR, Private Jets
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25 October 2023 14:14 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo inaugurated Mentawai Airport in West Sumatra today, October 25. Yesterday, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi visited the airport to review the preparation for the inauguration.
"I am here today to make sure that Mentawai Airport can function. God willing, the President is willing to carry out the inauguration tomorrow," he said in an official statement, on Tuesday, October 24.
According to Budi, the regional and tourism potential of the Mentawai Islands will be boosted by the operation of Mentawai Airport. “Mentawai is one of the outermost areas where previously the airport was less capable. With this new airport, it is possible for ATR aircraft and private jets to land here," he said.
The new Mentawai Airport has a runway size of 1,500 x 30 meters, able to accommodate larger aircraft, namely the ATR 72-600, with a maximum capacity of 78 passengers. The old airport's runway was only 850 x 23 meters and could only accommodate Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft with a capacity of 12 passengers.
With the airport now capable of receiving larger plans carrying more people, Budi Karya hopes that the presence of the new airport can increase the number of visitors, especially tourists, coming to Mentawai.
On the same occasion, Mentawai Islands Acting Regent Fernando Jongguran Simanjuntak expressed his optimism over the existence of a new airport in the regency.
Fernando said that one of the obstacles that tourists have experienced in accessing Mentawai is the weather factor which affects sea transportation. "With access to air transportation, there is now a new alternative to get to Mentawai. Tourists don't just depend on sea routes," he said.
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