Tronojoyo Airport Expansion Awaiting Land Availability

Sumenep, East Java (ANTARA) - The expansion of Trunojoyo airport in Sumenep District on Madura Island, East Java, is still awaiting the land that will be provided by the district government, Airport Working Unit Chief Dwi Ariyanto said here on Friday. "The Ministry of Transportation will allocate funds this year for the expansion of the airport but we are still waiting for land availability," Ariyanto noted. According to him, the runway of Trunojoyo airport will be extended from 1,160 meters to 1,400 meters, besides the expansion of its passenger terminal. The Sumenep district government actually planned to provide a 5-hectare plot of land for the expansion of the Trunojoyo airport in 2013. Deputy District Head of Sumenep Soengkono Sidik in October last year that based on a discussion with the Trunojoyo Airport Working Unit, the expansion of the aerodrome in 2013 would need a 5-hectare plot of land. Soengkono said at the time that the district government would prepare at least a 5-hectare plot of land for the expansion of airport's runway, aircraft parking area, and passenger terminal. "We have made a coordination with Sumenep district government about the funds allocation from the Ministry of Transportation for the land acquisition and we hope it will materially as soon as possible," Ariyanto said. Since the past several years the district government and the Trunojoyo Airport Working Unit have made every effort to make it a commercial airport with regular flights.