(3/23/2012)
The Jakarta Post reports that during the current expansion of Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport those in charge of the airport will be more selective in granting landing and traffic rights due to limited handling capacity.
Purwanto, general manager for the airport authority, PT Angkasa Pura I, said:
“Although the airport is still undergoing a massive expansion project, some new airlines have filed official requests to open new routes to Bali. Moreover, there are other airlines that want to add more flights to this airport.”
According to Purwanto, the need for greater selectivity in granting airline access to the airport is based on the need to consider limited capacity, existing markets and the performance of the respective airlines. Adding, “We don’t want these conditions to disrupt the airlines’ operations or to cause financial losses to those airlines that operate additional flights.”
The current expansion to Bali’s airport is costing Rp. 2.1 trillion (US$233 million) and is targeted to be completed by September 2013 in time for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit to be held later that year.
Improvements include a 129,000 square meter international terminal, and upgrades to the apron and parking facilities.
Underlining the heavy strains placed on Bali’s sole airport, Purwanto explained: “Last year, the number of passengers reached 12,771,874, comprising 6,594,830 domestic passengers and 6,177,044 international passengers.”
Passenger totals at Bali’s airport have more than doubled over the past four years with an average 284 flights handled each day.
Passenger numbers declined slightly, however, in 2011 due to the cancellation of Japan Airline and Qantas flights to Bali.
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