Halim Airport to Close for 3.5 Months as Renovation Begins

TheIndonesia.id - The revitalization of Halim Perdanakusuma airport began on Wednesday, January 26, and it’s expected to close for three months.

Previously, President Joko Widodo directly ordered the renovation to the facility which also serves as airbase of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU), and the effort aims to improve the quality of airport’s land and air facilities to maintain safety and security aspects.

“As revitalization begins, Halim [Perdanakusuma] airport will temporarily close from January 26, 2022. Closing period is estimated at up to 3.5 months,” Ministry of Transportation confirmed in a statement, as reported by Suara.com.

In the last few months, the Ministry, along with the Air Force and other concerning stakeholders, have been coordinating to anticipate the impacts from the shutdown of aviation service operational in the airport.

Directorate general of civil aviation at the Ministry has asked airport and flight operators to prepare necessary measures, including flight cancelation, ticket refund, and flight rerouting.

Among some of the revitalization works will include runway and taxiway renovation, airport apron extension, building renovation, and drainage system improvement within the airport.

Halim Perdanakusuma airport is home to scheduled and non-scheduled commercial flights, cargo services, as well as military and VVIP flights. During the revitalization, its operations will be temporarily put on a halt, and there will be no flights to and from Halim.

Flight operations will be relocated to Soekarno-Hatta, Husein Sastranegara, Kertajati, Budiarto, and Pondok Cabe airports.

In December, it was also confirmed that besides Ministry of Transportation and the Indonesian military, Ministry of Defense and airport operator Angkasa Pura will also be involved in the project.