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Investor Daily - Pengembangan Bandara Dhoho butuh dukungan seluruh pihak
23 April 2024
By Ichsan Amin
Jakarta, ID – The government through the Transportation Ministry with airport operators and Kediri Regency Government are continuously boosting the utilisation of Dhoho Airport in Kediri, East Java.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that two airports were currently being optimised, namely Kertajati International Airport in West Java and Dhoho Airport in Kediri.
“We are continuously optimising [the airports] through the central government so that airlines can maximise their potential. The same goes for Dhoho Airport in Kediri where we are coordinating with the regency government so that regions around Kediri can also benefit from Dhoho Airport,” Budi Karya said in Jakarta on Monday (22/4/2024).
According to the Transportation Minister, the market potential of the airport coded DHX could affect other regions around Kediri Regency. “All parties must play their roles, especially the regional government. We as the regulator are ready to support,” he added.
Currently, Citilink Indonesia with flight number QG752 is the first airline to operate a round trip from Dhoho Airport in Kediri to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Friday (5/4).
PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (InJourney Airports) President Director Faik Fahmi said that the operation of Dhoho Airport through the inaugural flight was expected to have a multiplier effect on the economic growth and tourism in Kediri, as well as East Java in general.
“As an airport operator, AP I has ensured the readiness of human resources, security, safety, and supporting facilities for aircraft operation to provide the best services for all users,” Faik concluded.
Faik mentioned that Dhoho Airport was a modern airport equipped with supporting infrastructure, featuring a runway with a capacity of 3,300 metres x 45 metres capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777-300ER. The passenger terminal spans 28,000 m2 with a capacity of 1.5 million passengers per year. Additionally, it has a commercial apron with a capacity of 12 narrow-body aircrafts and three wide-body aircrafts, along with a VIP apron capable of holding four small aircrafts and one narrow-body aircrafts.
“I think the development stage can progress in line with the market potential later,” Faik added.
Meanwhile, an aviation observer, Alvin Lie, explained that Dhoho Airport holds flight permit for eight routes. However, only one route is currently operational. “The number one priority is to activate one route first, so it will develop gradually in the future,” he said to Investor Daily.
According to him, Dhoho Airport should not force opening routes that have the potential to be closed. “Rather than hastily opening many routes only to have them closed in the near future, as was the case at Kertajati, routes should be opened gradually while taking into account the market potential,” he explained.
Serving 1,155 passengers
Dhoho Airport General Manager I Nyoman Noer Rohim revealed that the airport recorded 1,155 passenger movements and eight times the number of flights during Eid until D+6.
“Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), flights at DHX were carried out safely and smoothly until Tuesday on 16 April 2024 with 1,155 passengers recorded. In detail, there were 513 departing passengers and 642 arriving passengers,” he said recently.
He explained that, during the 2024 Eid transportation period, AP I was committed to providing airport facilities and personnel ready to offer optimum service. This ensures that users feel comfortable and secure when using air transportation at Dhoho Airport.
Furthermore, he also expressed appreciation for all policymakers who facilitated Dhoho Airport in providing the best service for the residents of Kediri and East Java in general.
Dhoho Airport in Kediri has been officially operating since Friday (5/4) with an inaugural round trip flight by Citilink from Jakarta to Kediri. Following the inaugural flight on 5 April 2024, Citilink will operate the Jakarta-Kediri route regularly two times a week on Tuesday and Saturday.
Based on the website of the Transportation Ministry, the airport located in Kediri Regency has an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) code of WARD and an International Air Traffic Association (IATA) code of DHX.
Meanwhile, Kediri Regent Hanindhito Himawan Pramana revealed that the operation of the airport has a strategic meaning to the economy and tourism development in the Kediri Raya area and its vicinity, such as Nganjuk, Tulungagung, Blitar, Jombang, and more.
“We hope that operation of Dhoho Airport could boost local economy development and promote products from the Kediri Raya area, especially from Kediri Regency,” he stated.
Dhoho Airport in Kediri has been operated by AP I since 29 March 2023 based on an operational cooperation between AP I and PT Surya Dhoho Investama (PT SDHI).
This airport is an infrastructure development initiated by a subsidiary of PT Gudang Garam (GGRM), PT Surya Dhoho Investama (SDHI). The investment cost reaches Rp13 trillion in three stages, in accordance with the development. The airport is set to accommodate 10 million passengers per year with 1.5 million passengers per year in the first stage, 4.5 million passengers per year in the second stage, and 10 million passengers per year in the third stage.
