Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang, Central Java, is set to become Indonesia's first 'floating airport’, with its new passenger terminal being built on a platform on water as part of an expansion project.
Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo previously said the airport would have an artistic design to create the impression that it is floating on water and thereby suit its location close to the coast.
"The airport will almost seem to be floating," Ganjar said to Tempo. Ganjar argued that the design was very artistic as the airport will floating on the coast with a stunning panorama from the top.
The developers responsible for the Ahmad Yani International Airport expansion are determined to finish transforming the facility into an eco-friendly airport almost 10 times its original size by last quarter of 2019.
Meanwhile, phase one and phase two of the project, which are the construction of access road to the newly expanded terminal, are set to conclude in Otcober this year.
Tommy Soetomo 'president director of state-run airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I, 'explained to The Jakarta Post that the expansion would allow the airport to accommodate up to 6 to 7 million passengers annually, up from 3.2 million.
With the expansion budget had reached almost Rp 2 billion (US$150,178), the airport would also have five aerobridges, two-level building with modern facilities.
Semarang Ahmad Yani Airport Development project manager Tony Alam explained that the airport had been designed with a green concept in mind and would see a large increase in its capacity, as the air transport hub would sprawl out across 58,000 square meters, up from its original 6,000 sqm, as quoted by The Jakarta Post.
One of the ways to save energy would be by using renewable energy; for example, the street lights will use solar power, water treatment will use the reverse osmosis process, water from surrounding waterways will be recycled for operational purposes," Tony said to Tempo.
Ahmad Yani Aiport used to be a military airbase owned by the TNI (Armed Forces of Indonesia) until 1966 when the airport was declared open for domestic commercial flights, other than as an airbase for the Indonesian Army. The name Ahmad Yani was taken to honour one of Indonesia's national heroes, General Ahmad Yani.
On June 17, 2014 Angkasa Pura I and military officials signed an agreement allowing the use of military land for 30 years and implementing the expansion project. It became an international airport with the first flight of Garuda Indonesia to Singapore in August 2004.
