Minister Calls For Improvement At Ngurah Rai Airport

Kuta (Antara Bali) - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has visited the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali and called upon airport management company PT Angkasa Pura-I to improve the airports facilities.

"The growth of passengers at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport is very rapid. Within a few years it rose by 112 per cent. Therefore, PT Angkasa Pura-I should develop a more detailed plan and put it in place soon in order to increase the capacity of the airport terminal," Sumadi remarked.

He said the government planned to increase the capacity of Ngurah Rai International Airport terminal from 25 million to 35 million passengers per year.

"Therefore, I ask PT Angakasa Pura-I to improve the airport facility, such as the runways and exit taxiway, in order to accommodate all types of wide-bodied aircraft," the transportation minister said.

In his first visit as minister of transportation, Budi Karya conducted a closed-door meeting and also toured the domestic and international terminals at the airport.

Budi Karya also touched on the setting of "time slots", especially for small-bodied aircraft such as ATR, which arrive at the airport in Bali. (WDY)