Ngurah Rai Airport Closed for Commercial Flights During APEC Summit

Denpasar, Bali (Antara) - PT Angkasa Pura I--the operator of the Ngurah Rai International Airport--plans to close the airport to commercial flights in an effort to facilitate the arrival of the heads of state attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. According to PT Angkasa Pura I's Safety Manager, Efferson Siregar, the operator has maximized arrangements in anticipation of the guests' arrivals, by choosing among other things to shut down the Ngurah Rai airport during the arrival of the Summit attendees. As many as 21 leaders of APEC are expected to assemble here on October 7 and 8, Siregar revealed, adding that the airport closure will be effective from October 6 through 9. He added that a notification had been issued to all airports globally about the airport closure. Siregar further pointed out that the airport will be shut down to commercial flights on October 6 starting from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Central Indonesia Standard Time (WITA), and on October 8, from 1:00 p.m. up till 8:00 p.m. WITA. On October 9, the airport will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., he added. "We also do not rule out the possibility of a state guest arriving here on October 5," he noted. (*)