State-Owned Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar inaugurated Monday the opening of Terminal 1C at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Monday after an expansion and redesign project.

Mustafa told state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II to provide service with innovation to meet the needs of more airplane passengers.

PT Angkasa Pura II president director Eddie Haryoto said the expansion project was the next step in its airport improvement program after the construction of Terminal III, which is dedicated to no-frills airlines.

The Terminal 1C expansion cost Rp 32 billion (US$3.52 million) and enlarged the terminal from 32,000 to 37,000 square meters. The terminal can now serve more than 9.5 million people a year, up from 4 million previously. The boarding lounges were also enlarged from 3,361 to 4,251 square meters and now have 52,112 seats.

Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah also attended the ceremony. The governor recently signed a memorandum with PT Angkasa Pura II and state toll road operator PT Jasa Marga on road access to the airport. - JP