Berau Expands Runway And Apron Of Kalimarau Airport

Tanjung Redeb, April 19 (ANTARA)- The district administration of Berau of East Kalimantan, is expanding the runway and apron of the Kalimarau airport to provide parking place for aircraft in the airport. The district administration will continue to coordinate with the Transport Ministry through the air transport directorate general in the implementation of the project, Berau Regent Makmur HAPK said. Construction of new airport terminal has been completed, and now expansion program continue to increase the length of the runway and expand the apron, Makmur said here on Friday. The runway 2,250 meter long and 30 meter wide was officially commissioned last February by the transport minister. The airport could accommodate wide bodied aircraft like Boeing 737 series , but the district administration wants to lengthen the runway to more than 3,000 meters especially there is ample space of land well safe from people`s settlements, Makmur said. Expansion of the aircraft will be carried out by phases, in coordination with the transport ministry, he added. Currently, four airlines already park their aircraft overnight in the Kalimaru airport, therefore, expansion of the apron is needed, he said. The expansion of the apron will be made a priority to give greater convenience and guarantee enough space for aircraft and the passengers in the airport. Makmur said he hopes the airport could serve as an embarkation airport for hajj pilgrims for the northern part of East Kalimantan. So far hajj pilgrims from a number of regencies in the northern part of the province have to go a long way to Balikpapan as the embarkation airport for East Kalimantan.