Jokowi Inaugurates Wiriadinata Airport

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has inaugurated the Wiriadinata airbase in Tasikmalaya, West Java, as a public airport which can be used for commercial flights.

"I see that the south area has a potential. The trade activities of Tasikmalaya is very good. This should be supported by both land and air infrastructure," the president said here on Saturday afternoon.

According to him, the development of both land and air transport infrastructures in the region will accelerate the economic development in Tasikmalaya.

Previously, Wiriadinata airbase was managed by the country's Air Force, with a land area of 70 hectares and a runway length of 1.2 thousand meters.

The president also asked the local government to manage the procedural requirements to be in line with the regulations of both military and civil aviation and the land status.

In line with the inauguration, the inaugural flight of Wings Air airline with ATR plane in the Tasikmalaya-Bandung route took place. Another flights route to other cities, such as Jakarta, will also be opened.

Jokowi and his entourage from this airbase returned to Jakarta to end a working visit in Tasikmalaya and Ciamis on board a CN-295 TNI AU aircraft.

The length of the flight of the turbo propeller aircraft from the Wiriadinata airbase to Halim Perdanakusuma airport in Jakarta takes about 50 minutes.

In the meantime, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi stated that the inauguration of the Wiriadinata airbase as the public airport reinforces the government's commitment to boost facilities on the outskirts.

The good connectivity can increase community productivity and strengthen regional competitiveness in international markets, as well as strengthen the unity (of the nation), the minister added. (WDY)