President Jokowi Inaugurates New Terminal of Semarang Airport

President Jokowi and a number of ministers press the siren button to mark the inauguration of Ahmad Yani International Airport Terminal, in Semarang, on Thursday (7/6) (Photo: PR/Murti)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Thursday (7/6) inaugurated a new terminal at Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang, Central Java.

The airport, which was initially an air force base of the Indonesian Air Force, has now been developed as a domestic airport and an international airport.

“We must remember that in the past, this airport could only accommodate 800,000 passengers per year, but now the airport’s passenger capacity has risen into 6.5 million passengers per year, a nearly eightfold from 800,000 to 6.5 million passengers per year. It is such a significant increase,” President Jokowi explained during the inauguration ceremony.

President Jokowi also said that the airport has also reported an increase in air cargo services, from 10,000 tons to 16,000 tons per year, showing that opportunities for shipping cargo overseas will widen.

Also on that occasion, President Jokowi mentioned that compared with Kertajati International Airport in West Java that is equally good as Ahmad Yani International Airport, this airport has a plus point, which is in terms of environment values. “The new facilities will provide more comfort and ease for the passengers, not to mention that the building and its management are also based on eco-green concept, as I have mentioned before,” President Jokowi added.

Besides air transportation, the President also asserted that toll roads will be ready to operate during this year’s mudik (annual exodus ahead of Eid Al-Fitr). This year, the President said, toll roads from Jakarta to Pasuruan are already connected and although some of the roads can only operate functionally, the President ensured that roads can be operated by the end of this year

“By the end of 2019, (toll roads) from the westernmost point of Java, from Merak to Banyuwangi are targeted to be operated. I’ve set this target to Minister of State-Owned Enterprises and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing,” President Jokowi firmly said, adding that the other target is to develop and manage several airport terminals all over the country.

“Indeed, we should have target in work without overlooking safety aspects. Security must also become our main attention,” the President said.

President Jokowi also called on the management, passengers of the airport, particularly people living in Central Java and Semarang, to take care of the terminal because it is public facilities and used for the people’s common interest.

“By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby inaugurate the operation of Ahmad Yani Airport Terminal this afternoon. Thank you,” the President said.

Accompanying President Jokowi in that event were First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, and Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi.  (GUN/EN) (RAS/EP/Naster)