The Indonesian Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, invited Abu Dhabi Airport to develop Kertajati Airport. Kertajati Airport is located in West Java, Indonesia. This is a new airport to replace Husein Sastranegara Airport, which is located in Bandung. The facilities available at Kertajati Airport are complete because there are overhauls, maintenance, repairs, and cargo villages. The size of the airport is quite large and is categorized as the second largest airport in Indonesia. Meanwhile, the largest airport is still Soekarno Hatta Airport as the International Airport in Jakarta.
Opportunities for Abu Dhabi Airport to Become a Partner
The Minister of Transportation also explained that foreign investors can buy shares at Kertajati Airport. However, the maximum number of shares is 49%. The UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail Mohammed Al Mazroei, considered the offer quite attractive. He showed interest and tried to explore opportunities to collaborate in the future with Indonesia. He also said that he was connected as a business partner in Indonesia’s transportation sector as a whole, including air, sea, and rail. The Indonesian Minister of Transportation has also approached several other investors. Some of the countries targeted in order to find investors are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
This airport has also carried out full operations. There are many flight schedules every day, both domestic and international. Several airlines at the airport are Citilink, Super Air Jet, and Air Asia. Domestic flights from this airport go to Denpasar and Balikpapan. Many pilgrims depart from Kertajati Airport. The airport has the opportunity to bring in a number of profits because there are many users, such as tourists, Hajj, and Umrah participants.
In the future, Kertajati Airport will have the opportunity to collaborate with UAE Airlines. There is a possibility that a joint venture process will be carried out so that the development of this international airport can be more optimal. Now, the Indonesian Minister of Transportation is still waiting for a response on cooperation with Abu Dhabi Airport. The ongoing collaboration will also be carried out together with AP II and BIJB (airport management).