Jember's Airport To be Operational Soon

Jember, East Java, Jan 21 (Antara) - The Notohadinegoro airport in Jember district, East Java, will soon be operational to serve commercial flights in the Jember-Surabaya route, stated an official. "Construction of supporting facility and infrastructure will be expedited and completed by mid 2014 because the national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has confirmed to open its regular flights from Surabaya to Jember," stated local Transportation Department spokesman Cholifah, here on Monday. According to her, Garuda`s ATR 72-600 plane will start its maiden flight to the Notohadinegoro airport in April from Juanda airport in Surabaya. Cholifah pointed out that she had coordinated with the Ministry of Transportation to check the number of shortcomings which require immediate improvement at the airport. "We hope that the Ministry of Transportation will positively support the operation of Notohadinegoro airport in order to make the local community`s dream of Jember-Surabaya flight service come true," she noted. Further, she added that Jember Transportation Department has allocated around Rp18 billion of funds from the 2014 regional budget for the procurement of aviation equipment such as X-ray, navigation, and air traffic controller, including maintenance and extension of Notohadinegoro airport`s runway. She added that PT Garuda Indonesia will operate the ATR 72-600 with a single class economy cabin configuration and seat capacity for 70 passengers to serve short-haul and remote routes of Banyuwangi-Surabaya and Jember Surabaya starting April. "Garuda will conduct a survey at the Notohadinegoro airport in the end of January in order to address the shortcomings and the defects," she explained.