Indonesia's first floating airport!

Central Java’s Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang, is to become Indonesia’s first “floating” airport. This is as the latest expansion project includes a new passenger terminal to be built on a platform on water.

The president director of state run airport operator, PT Angkasa Pura I, managing airports in the Eastern part of Indonesia — announced that the expansion would allow the airport to host up to six to seven million passengers each year, up from 3.2million from the end of last year.

This is following the airport having faced capacity related problems for a while now. This new development will also improve other basic facilities and services of the airport.

The redevelopment aims to be completed over three stages across two years, with a Rp1.5trillion (US$126 million) investment. 

Upon completion, the airport will boast new as well as improved facilities, projected to handle a 16% boost in passenger numbers per year. 

Within the airport’s development, areas of the complex will be constructed over water, including the expansion of the apron above a shrimp farm.

Facilities to be developed include the runway, which will be extended to 72,552m², as well as the apron, which will be enhanced to host wide-body aircraft including the Airbus A330 and the Boeing 767.

According to Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, it is also hoped that more direct international flights will be introduced (particularly to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as well as for medical tourists and students), to boost economic activity.

Moreover, Angkasa Pura I has signed an operational cooperation agreement with the Indonesian Army, who owns the land that the airport lies upon, promising dual management and profit shares over the upcoming 30 years.

Transportation Minister, EE Mangindaan announced that the new refurbished airport would aid in reducing congestion at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, owing to its strategic location in Central Java.

Presently, Ahmad Yani airport is served by nine domestic airlines, including the national flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia, as well as Malaysia based low cost carrier, AirAsia.