By the end of June, the Ngurah Rai International Airport, in Badung Regency, Bali, will have completed its expansion and renovation of all the sections of the international and domestic terminals and several other facilities. Until Wednesday (16/4/2014), several workers were still working on the domestic terminal, particularly to refurbish the physical appearance with Balinese ornaments. The total expansion of the airport that is budgeted at Rp 3 trillion, only needs to complete the renovation in the domestic terminal. With this expansion, Ngurah Rai is predicted to be able to accommodate 25 million passengers per year till 2025.
"We hope there would be no obstacles and that it can be completed by the end of June. We just can’t wait to serve our customers with maximum convenience and secure services. Now, the airport is still undergoing refurbishment" said the General Manager of Angkasa Pura Airports of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Branch, I Gusti Ngurah Ardhita, at his office, yesterday.
He said that the airport is currently changing its appearance and maximizing its services. The expansion not only refers to expanding the area but also refers to rearranging the commercial area. The area of the international terminal is expanded to 120,000 square meters from 65,800 square meters and has been in operation since November of last year. Meanwhile the domestic terminal is expanded to 65,800 square from 13,300 square meters.
Ardhita further explained that the international terminal has applied a new baggage handling system and examination of carry-on luggage starting this April. This system does not require x-rays at the entrance gate including at the international terminal, particularly for luggage of passengers. The airport authority would have to wait until the completion of the domestic terminal before they can increase the airport service tax from Rp 40,000 to Rp 75,000 per person. The new rate is applicable for the international terminal that has been raised from Rp 150.000 to Rp 200.000 per person. "We will finalize the renovation first and maximize our services. Then we will apply the new rate for the airport service charge for the domestic terminal," said Ardhita. [Source: Kompas/Diani Sekaring Sejati]
