Jakarta - Semarang residents and those who live in the neighboring towns have been waiting for the new Ahmad Yani Airport. The wait is an urge due to the terminal’s density of Ahmad Yani Airport. Then what is the answer of Angkasa Pura Airports as the operator of the airport? Corporate Secretary of Angkasa Pura Airports, Farid Indra explained that the development of the new Ahmad Yani Airport will be done in two years following the groundbreaking ceremony last June (17/6).
That means the residents of Semarang and its neighboring towns will have to be patient until 2016 to be able to enjoy the service of airport terminals with floating or on-water concept. "We schedule two years for development project. Currently they are in the phase of ground flattening and main road building. In addition, in the new terminal there’s an area with holes so we have to cover them first," explained Farid when being confirmed at the central office of Angkasa Pura Airports, Kemayoran, Jakarta as quoted on Tuesday (22/7/2014).
Farid further explained that the development project could not be rushed. Building a floating airport needs a very detailed and well-planned analysis and construction. In addition, the terminal location is above a swamp ground. Angkasa Pura Airports also need to protect its environment. Thus, in the construction process, they have to use a specific construction technique.
"The construction process is quite complex because it’s done above a swamp. There should be a soil test to find out whether the soil is solid enough, thus we need a detailed plan," he explained. To develop Ahmad Yani airport, Angkasa Pura Airport has planned an eco airport or environment-friendly airport concept. This eco airport concept will put the Semarang Airport in the same class as world class airports such as Incheon Airport in South Korea or Changi Airport in Singapore.
"Incheon does not alter its environment condition. They still absorb the sunlight. In ASEAN we have Changi," he added. When the development process completed in 2016, the new Ahmad Yani terminal could serve up to 7 million domestic and international passengers per year.
Currently the terminal covers 6.700 m2 and designed to serve around 800,000 passengers per year. However, the data showed that the number of passengers who arrive and leave the airport in 2013 reached 3,295,000 people. When the new floating terminal is operating, the old Ahmad Yani airport will be used for cargo. "The old terminal will still operate, but for cargo," he said. [Diani Sekaring Sejati/Source: Detik.com]
