Bali Airport Set for $211 million Upgrade
The words ‘Bali’ and ‘surfing’ have gone hand in hand for over 40 years. A favourite amongst Australians due to its proximity, Bali is also world renowned for its consistency, variety and number of awesome breaks. Expansion of Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport will start this month, beginning with a project to relieve traffic congestion, according to a senior airport official. State-owned airport management company PT Angkasa Pura I, which manages Ngurah Rai, is ready to start the first part of a four phase expansion project that will cost an estimated Rp 1.9 trillion (approximately US$211 million), according to company director Mr Tommy Soetomo.
The company will build a new international terminal and convert the airports current international terminal to a domestic terminal. The project will also include construction of a three-story parking lot capable of accommodating 1,500 cars. The terminal will also be equipped with a transit hotel to accommodate the passengers of cancelled flights. The airport’s domestic terminal is currently operating over capacity, accommodating 4.5 million passengers a year — three times its maximum load.
The airport’s terminals will span 190,000 square metres and be able to accommodate 20 million passengers a year after the expansion project is complete in 2013. “Currently around 11 million passengers a year arrive and depart through this airport, and the number keeps rising. That’s why we should complete the project as soon as possible,” Tommy said.
“If we don’t address the overcapacity problem it will affect safety and security,” he added.
Once the fourth phase is completed, the airport will be the first in Indonesia to have a barcode-driven automatic baggage handling system. Ngurah Rai’s new airport general manager, Purwanto, said the company would take preventative measures to reduce overcrowding at the airport during construction.
Bali offers over 30 top quality breaks on the west and east coasts of the island, which are just half an hour apart by car or motorbike. You’ll find offshore winds virtually every day all year. With a great selection of villas, surf camps, surf school and boat charters, The Perfect Wave will look after all your needs to make your surf holiday just the way you want it! Check out our Bali surf experiences page HERE.
Source: Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, The Republic of Indonesia
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