Achmad Yani International Airport

Achmad Yani International Airport (Indonesian: Bandar Udara Internasional Achmad Yani) (IATA: SRG, ICAO: WARS) is the airport serving Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. The airport used to be a military airbase owned by the TNI (Armed Forces of Indonesia) until 1966 when the airport was declared to be open for domestic commercial flights, other than as an airbase for the Indonesian Army. The airport is located in Western Semarang district, in an area commonly known as Kalibanteng, hence it was commonly known as Kalibanteng Airbase in the past. The name Achmad Yani was taken to honour one of Indonesia’s National Heroes, General Achmad Yani.

Currently, it is operated by PT Angkasa Pura I, a state enterprise of the Indonesian Department of Transport that manages airports in the eastern part of Indonesia. It became an international airport with the first international flight of Garuda Indonesia to Singapore in August 2004.

History

Achmad Yani International Airport used to be a military airbase for the Indonesian Army. It opens for commercial flights after the joint decree between Chief of the Air Staff, Minister of Transport, and the Army Chief of Staff on 31 August 1966. Since 1 October 1995, the management of the airport was transferred to PT Angkasa Pura I and this marked the start of the fully commercial function of the airport until now. Expansion of the airport was commenced in 2004, done in phases starting with the addition to the length of the runway to accommodated safer landing of wide bodied aeroplanes. The airport gained its international status in August 2004 with its inaugural flight from Semarang to Singapore, as mentioned in the Minister’s Decree No. 64/2004 on 10 August 2004. However, due to the global recession, the Semarang-Singapore route operated by Garuda was discontinued. Batavia Air took over this route in November 2009.

Present day

Achmad Yani International Airport currently has one terminal to the south of the runway, with one arrival and departure gate each for domestic and international flights. The terminal has a total area of 2657 m2 and domestic capacity of 180 passengers. Facilities include souvenir shops, food outlets, bank, money changer, hotel and travel booking offices, taxi and rental car services. It also has a 268045 m runway, a taxiway and apron with area total of 91900 m²

Airlines and destinations

Accidents and incidents

• On 1 May 1981, Vickers Viscount PK-RVN of Mandala Airlines was damaged beyond economic repair when it departed the runway on landing, causing the starboard and nose gear to collapse.^[1]

Future plans

The Central Java Government announced plans to expand the airport in 2004. When this project is completed, Achmad Yani International Airport will be better able to accommodate the larger flow of travelers that now use the airport. The airport currently has a 2,680 m runway which is capable of handling Boeing 767 and Airbus A320. A new terminal building will be located north of the old terminal. It will be 21,500 square meters wide and able to accommodate 2 medium jets and 10 small jets.

References

External links

• PT. Angkasa Pura I: Achmad Yani Airport (English)
• Airport information for WARS at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
• Accident history for SRG at Aviation Safety Network