REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, GRESIK -- Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan said the new 'pioneer' airport on the island of Bawean, regency of Gresik, in East Java would be operational in December 2015.
"By the end of December or early January, 2016 there would be regular pioneer flight between the Juanda airport of Surabaya and the Bawean airport," Jonan said after inspecting the new airport on on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, fence would be built around the airport to keep animals away from the port, he said.
He said flight navigation facility is also yet to be built in the airport.
He said the runway is only 930 meters and it needs to be lengthened to 1,300 meters that the airport could accommodate larger aircraft.
Currently the airport could be used only for small aircraft of 12 seats, he said.