BANJARMASIN - President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo, more commonly known as Jokowi, inaugurated the new terminal of Syamsudin Noor International Airport in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan on Wednesday (12/18).
"By saying Bismillah [in the name of God], this afternoon I inaugurated Syamsudin Noor International Airport in South Kalimantan," Jokowi said.
The President said he was amazed at the grandeur of the new terminal at Syamsudin Noor International Airport, saying "I was very surprised when I landed at this airport. Really nice and big. This airport is something to be proud of.”
President Joko Widodo also mentioned about the passenger growth of seven percent a year and the growth of aircraft movements which reached 10 percent per year at the airport should be anticipated.
"It means in ten years this airport must be ready to be developed again. The growth is very high," Jokowi said.
He added that the infrastructure development for national competitiveness is important as currently economic competition between countries is very stiff.
"If we lose in the infrastructure side, we will not be able to compete with other countries. Therefore we are boosting the construction of airports, tolls, ports and other infrastructure," Jokowi added.
He also told South Kalimantan Governor that the airport must be connected to industrial and tourism areas so that the development of the infrastructure can provide benefits for the people of South Kalimantan.
"The presence of Syamsudin Noor International Airport's new terminal is a form of Angkasa Pura I's commitment in providing the best service to airport service users and as a form of contribution of Angkasa Pura Airports in contributing to the economic growth of South Kalimantan," said Angkasa Pura Airports president director Faik Fahmi.
The ground-breaking for the development of Syamsudin Noor International Airport was carried out on May 18, 2015. The construction work was divided into two work packages, namely Package 1 which is terminal building construction and supporting facilities undertaken by state-owned construction companies PP and Wika KSO Building and Package 2 which is infrastructure work, supporting buildings and apron expansion by construction company NKE.
The construction work has been 100 percent completed. Package 2 was completed in July 2019 for 27 months while Package 1 was completed in December 2019 for 19 months. The new Syamsudin Noor International Airport terminal has begun operating since December 10, 2019.
"With the operation of the new terminal with a capacity of seven million passengers per year, built with investment of Rp2.2 trillion, this will simultaneously overcome the lack of capacity of this airport," Faik said.
In 2018, Syamsudin Noor International Airport has served 3.9 million passengers, while the ideal capacity is only 1.5 million passengers per year. With the current capacity of nearly five times larger than the old terminal, Syamsudin Noor International Airport is the second largest airport in Kalimantan after Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport in Balikpapan.
"During the Christmas and the 2020 New Year’s holidays, people around South Kalimantan will be able to enjoy modern facilities at the larger and more comfortable terminal of this airport," Faik added.
Meanwhile, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi hoped the inauguration of the new Syamsudin Noor International Airport terminal would raise people’s enthusiasm, especially the people of South Kalimantan.
"There is one prestige because this airport is our new face, a pride of the people of South Kalimantan," Minister Budi said.
As an icon of the new pride of the people of South Kalimantan, Syamsudin Noor International Airport’s terminal combines grandeur and modernity with natural resources from Kalimantan. It is seen in the terminal design that resembles diamond with a roof designed in kano shape. Therefore this airport is also referred as the "Jewel of Borneo".
In terms of facilities, the airport is equipped with the latest international standard equipment. In addition to the 77,569 square meter terminal building that can accommodate seven million passengers per year, the apron or aircraft parking space is also expanded to accommodate 14 aircrafts. There are the avio bridges, 42 check-in counters, and four baggage conveyors to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers.
The airport also provides a vehicle parking area of 36,780 square meters that can accommodate 1,199 four-wheeled vehicles and 720 two-wheeled vehicles as well as a mosque with a capacity of 1,186 worshipers. A new cargo terminal covering an area of 3,079 square meters with a capacity of 44,000 tons per year has also been built to complement the new terminal.
