Even though International Airport of Ngurah Rai achieved foreign tourists arrival for around 5.000 to 6.000 everyday, but this airport is not open for 24 hours, as one of the condition for Indonesia becomes the member of International Civil Aviation Organization.

“Five airports that we including in the requirement are Soekarno-Hatta that had operating fully as well as the other four in Makassar, Medan, Balikpapan and Surabaya,” said Transportation Minister, Freddy Numberi in Kuta, Tuesday.

He confessed it in the middle of Steering Committee Meeting for the 7th Cooperative Aviation Security Program Asia-Pacific (CASP-AP)

It is asserted that the government would operating at least five international standard airports operating for 24 hour every day in order to fulfill the condition for International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Freddy who accompanied by the vice official of ICAO office for Bangkok, Mochtar Awan, mentioned that nowadays Soekarno-Hatta international airport in Cengkareng had full operation to serve all arrival flight.

Ngurah Rai airport in Tuban of Badung Regency in the other hand does not including in this requirement program becoming ICAO member due to the arriving international flight entering the airport.

“If it happens then we fear that it will shut off domestic airways. This that we should anticipating so it would not cause domestic airways bankrupt,” he said.

Meanwhile, statement from Ngurah Rai airport mentioned that he airport actually had already open for 24 hour but so far still could not open nonstop flight, the last regular flight is around 02.00 – 03.00 and in the morning will ready all over again for other flights.

One thing that becomes consideration why the airport could not entering ICAO requirement program is airport admiration toward local people ceremony, that is Hindu’s ritual for Nyepi day.

According to Freddy, 24 hours airport is one requirement should be fulfilled in flight security application. This aiming simplification for emergency where the plan should landed on the closer airport.

“That kind of condition could simplifying the need of a plane for emergency landing besides could open a chance for international flight entering Indonesia,” he said.

Although airport in Makassar, Medan, Balikpapan and Surabaya will soon open for 24 hour, but not all of them would operated non-stop. It means that not all day and night those airports would serve for flight but they will always ready if needed.

Freddy Numberi said that airport full opening could affect to the raising flight number entering Indonesia. Thus feared among national airways could triggered passenger crisis for them.

According to him, that kind of situation is possible since the international airways could offer cheap price.

“That is why, from 26 international airports in Indonesia, not all could open 24 hours. This to avoid national airways bankruptcy,” he said.

Transportation Minister in this occasion also delivered his hope becomes one of ICAO council targeting could be realized in 2013. By becoming the council member of ICAO, Indonesia would have bargain position and could participate in international aviation policies, he added.

Meanwhile, Mokhtar Awan explained that so far the flight safety system in Asia Pacific is good in overall.

At committee level meeting for two days was discussed about program for safety flight system prevail in Asia Pacific.

“Besides discussing the need of member in CASP-AP cooperation in order to applicating annex 17 concerning security and annex 9 concerning facilities,” he said.

The meeting was participate by countries delegation of CASP-AP member such Indonesia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Timor Leste or known as Timor Timur.

Delegation from China, US, New Zealand, England, Papua New Guinea was not attended the meeting even though they were not member of this organization.

News by Antara Bali