Indonesian President Joko Widodo has inaugurated the Wiriadinata air base in Tasikmalaya, West Java, as a public airport that can be used for commercial flights.
“I see that the south area has potential. The trade activities of Tasikmalaya are very good. This should be supported by both land and air infrastructure,” the President said during inauguration rites June 10.
The ceremony marks the conversion of the Wiriadinata airport, previously managed by the Air Force, from an exclusive military airport to an air base with a civil airport enclave.
The chief executive said both land and air transport infrastructure in the region should be developed to accelerate the economic development of Tasikmalaya, reported Antara News.
Wiriadinata air base has a land area of 70 hectares and a runway length of 1,200 meters, and can accommodate military airplanes as well as ATR commercial airplanes.
Widodo in his remarks further asked the local government to manage the procedural requirements at the airport to align them with the regulations of both military and civil aviation operations.
He also ordered the Transportation Ministry to lengthen the runway to 1,600 meters by the end of 2017.
During the inauguration, a Wings Air ATR airline took off for its maiden flight on the Tasikmalaya-Bandung route. Other flight routes to other cities, such as Jakarta, will also be opened, said the report.
Widodo said he expects more airlines will come to Tasikmalaya in the next six months since the city holds great economic potentials.
Meantime, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi stated that the inauguration of the Wiriadinata air base as a public airport reinforces the government’s commitment to boost transport facilities on the outskirts.
Good air and land connectivity can increase community productivity and strengthen regional competitiveness in international markets, as well as strengthen the unity of the nation, the minister added.
Photo: Reindra
