TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi expected Lagaligo Bua Airport located in Palopo, South Sulawesi would cater 2 million passengers per year. The target, according to Budi, could be achieved should the airport has 2,250 meter-long runway.
“[The target is to accomodate] 1 million passengers at most. But if the runway length reaches 2,250 meters, it will be able to cater 2 million passengers per year,” said Budi Karya Sumadi in Lagaligo Bua airport on Wednesday, September 12.
Minister Budi said the airport recently has 1,400 meter-long runway and it would be expanded up to 1,600 meters this year.
Two to three years ahead, he added, the runway would be gradually extended to 2,250 meters.
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Budi Karya expected Bua Airport would connect seven to eight regencies in South Sulawesi in a bid to enhance the tourism accessibility in the province.
Budi further asked Luwu Major Andi Mudzakkar to acquire lands at the end of the runways as the expansion requires 200 to 300 meters of lands. According to him, if the runway project completed, Boeing 737 would be able to land in Bua Airport.
Meanwhile, the average budget of the development project amounted to some Rp20 billion per year, he mentioned. “We will work on the project step by step in accordance with the supporting factors. We hope Boeing 737 will later land on the runway.”
Budi Karya Sumadi said President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo would officially launch Lagaligo Bua Airport in the near time during his visit to monitor Buntu Kunik Airport in Toraja. “Perhaps in this month or next month,” he said.
MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO
