JAKARTA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo inaugurated on Thursday a new airport located in West Java province's regency of Majalengka whose commercial operation was slated to commence next month.
Inauguration of the airport with official name of West Java International Airport (BIJB) was marked with a landing session, conducted by presidential plane in the airport.
"Thank God, we had just witnessed the historical landing in the airport. I hope operation of this airport would significantly bring economy benefit to people in Majalengka and West Java province in general," the president said in his remarks to open the new airport.
Cited information he obtained from transportation minister, President Widodo said that the commercial flights serving from and to the airport have been scheduled to commence on June 8.
The president said that plans to extend the runway have been discussed so as to accommodate the take-off and landing of wide-bodied planes, such as Airbus 330 and Boeing 777, ensuring the airport to serve international flights.
Works to extend the runway from the existing 2,500 meters to 3,000 meters as well as expanding the terminals were expected to take a period of six months, he added.
President Widodo added that similar projects were also being carried out in several airports across the nation so as to expand their capacities to accommodate the growing number of flights and passengers.
"We were now doing the same projects in Semarang, Samarinda. Let's hope that it can be settled on track. In the meantime, completion of international airport project in Yogyakarta's Kulonprogo regency was expected next year," he added.
