Airportman.id – The Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia, through its press release, Friday (21/1), stated that Halim Perdanakusuma Airport (HLP) in Jakarta would be temporarily closed for revitalization. The revitalization activity is a follow-up to Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 9 of 2022 concerning the Revitalization of the Indonesian National Army Base Facilities/Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

The spokesman for the Ministry of Transportation, Adita Irawati, said, "With the start of revitalization, Halim Airport will be temporarily closed starting January 26, 2022. The closing time is estimated to be a maximum of 3.5 months."

The facilities that will be revitalized are landside and airside. For the airside, the activities that will be carried out are repairing and rehabilitating runways and taxiways, increasing the apron capacity of Naratetama and Naratama aircraft. On landside facilities, renovation of Naratetama and Naratama buildings, operating buildings, repair of drainage systems and arrangement of other facilities.

"We inform the temporary closure of Halim Perdanakusuma Airport early so that all relevant parties are ready to take steps to handle the impact of the closure," said Adita.

Through the Directorate General of Air Transportation, the Ministry of Transportation has coordinated with related parties, including airport operators and airlines, to handle problems that may arise, such as flight cancellations, ticket refunds, flight route diversions, etcetera.

"We also urge people who have purchased flight tickets with departures through Halim Airport to contact the airline so that the next handling process will be carried out," said Adita.

The flight operations that have been taking place at HLP, such as scheduled, unscheduled commercial flights, cargo, military and VVIP flights to and from HLP, will be temporarily suspended. Furthermore, these activities will be relocated to other airports such as Soekarno-Hatta Airport (CGK), Husein Sastranegara Airport (BDO), Kertajati Airport (KJT), Budiarto Airport (BTO) and Pondok Cabe Airport (PCB).

Through the Head of the Information Service (Kadispenau), Marsma TNI Indan Gilang Buldansyah, the Indonesian Air Force explained in this revitalization activity that they also relocated the Air and Engineering Squadron (Squadron Move) to BDO and CGK. The relocation has been carried out in stages since December 2021 and will be continued on January 24 and 25, 2022.