REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUPANG -- The Transportation minister has approved the proposal to develop a new airport to replace El Tari Airport in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.

"Last week, we had met the Transportation minister to discuss the plan to develop a new airport as the successor of El Tari Airport, and he has approved it," Head of Transportation Office of NTT Province Ricard Djami stated here on Monday.

Therefore, NTT Governor Frans Lebu Raya will write to President Joko Widodo about the proposal, Djami noted.

"It takes time to realize the development of a new airport, and it would need a large budget," Djami explained.

He remarked that it would be a long-term development project for the local administration, as it took around 14 years to move the airport from Polonia, Medan, in North Sumatra to Kuala Namu Airport, and around 11 years to shift the services from Selaparang Airport in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) to the Lombok International Airport.

"The most important thing is to welcome the governor's proposal and to take initial steps," Djami said.

The government will have developed the new airport by the time the El Tari Airport would no longer be able to accommodate the needs for air transportation services, he added.

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