Bali`s Ngurah Rai Airport Needs Additional Runway : Minister

Denpasar, Bali (Antara Bali)- Bali`s Ngurah Rai International airport needs an additional runway as the one has been close to full capacity.

Minister for State Enterprises Rini Soemarno additional runways are urgently needed .
"We fear that unless steps are taken immediately many fights could be delayed," Rini said here after a meeting with Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika here on Friday.

He said renovation has been made of the domestic and international terminals but the capacity is still below requirement with growing number of holiday makers. By relying only on one runway, the terminals would need bigger capacity to accommodate growing number of passengers waiting for their aircraft, he said .

Rini , therefore, proposed a longer additional runway and terminals. Meanwhile, president director of state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I, Tommy Soetomo, said feasibility study of the plan is already underway.

Tommy said the Ngurah Rai airport recorded an increase of 18.5 percent in international flights in the period of 2013-2014 from the previous year. He said ideally, the runway for international flight is at least 3,200 meters.

He said despite the additional runway , development of the airport of Buleleng in northern Bali is still needed and important. "Development of the airport in Northern Bali is for equitable development purpose,"  (WDY)