President Jokowi Inaugurates Trunojoyo Airport in E. Java

President Jokowi inaugurates Trunojoyo Airport in Sumenep, Madura, East Java, Wednesday (04/20). Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday (04/20) inaugurated Trunojoyo Airport in Sumenep regency, East Java province.

Built on a land area of ​​34 hectares, Trunojoyo Airport has a runway of 1,600 meters.

“I hope the airport can be utilized and be maintained as well as possible to improve regional competitiveness and boost communities’ economy to make people more prosperous,” the President said in his remarks.

According to the President, the airport is very important to improve connectivity among small islands around the island of Madura, and open up the isolation of remote islands around Madura. In addition, the airport will also cut travel time from the islands around Madura to an hour journey, shorter compared to several days using vessels.

“I am of the view that better connectivity will ease people’s mobility and create new economic centers. God willing, new businesses will emerge and new job opportunities will be available. Moreover, the existing businesses will grow and will be more advanced,” the President said.

On that occasion, the President also ordered Minister of Transportation to take necessary measures for opening flight routes from East Java provincial capital Surabaya to Sumenep and from capital Jakarta to Sumenep.

“As Eid al-Fitr draws nearer, I order Minister of Transportation to take necessary measures for opening flight routes from Surabaya to Sumenep and from Jakarta to Sumenep, so that we can see the flight occupancy rate. I think, God willing, the flight will be fully booked,” the President said.

For the record, to improve service to passengers, an extended area of ​​3,600 square meters has been developed.

The airport, funded by the State Budget, serves flights with ATR type aircraft on Madura-Surabaya, Madura-Bawean, Madura-Panurungan, and Madura-Banyuwangi routes. In addition, the airport also has potential to serve flights on Madura-Banjarmasin, Madura-Jakarta, and Madura-Bali routes. (TGH/UN) (RI/MUR)