Terminal-3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport Becomes Operational

Tangerang, Banten, 07 Dzulqa’dah 1437/10 August 2016  (MINA) –  The Terminal-3 of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport became operational after midnight on August 9, 2016., Antara reported.

Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, during an inspection of the terminal on Tuesday, examined all supporting facilities, including x-ray machine, check-in counter, waiting room, and the commercial area.

Sumadi expressed hope that the terminal will offer the best possible services to both domestic and international passengers.

Air passenger numbers are soaring in Indonesia, the world’s biggest archipelago nation and Southeast Asia’s top economy, as a growing middle class increasingly chooses to fly but ageing infrastructure is struggling to keep up.

The US$380 million terminal at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, a vast, futuristic-looking structure, will be able to handle about 25 million passengers a year once fully operational by March next year.

The other three terminals at the country’s busiest airport are currently handling about 60 million passengers a year, way over their capacity.

The first flights, domestic services by flag carrier Garuda, took off early Tuesday. The terminal will start off handling only domestic Garuda flights before later running international services.

The terminal’s opening was delayed for more than a month after the government ordered alterations following the discovery that an important area was not visible from the air traffic control tower.

Soekarno-Hatta airport will be able to handle 62 million passengers a year once the renovated terminals are fully operational again in early 2018.

The airport handled about 54 million passengers last year, making it the 18th busiest in the world, according to Airports Council International.

An electric train from the airport to the city is slated for completion in early 2017. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)