Bintan Resorts, the leisure complex on the Indonesian island of Bintan, has started work on a new private airport.
The new Bintan Resorts International Airport, located 30 minutes’ drive from the beach resort, is being developed at a cost of SG$100 million (US$79 million) and will feature a single terminal building, a 2.5km runway and control tower. It will be able to accommodate narrow-body jet aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320s, with a flying range of approximately five hours. Completion is expected in 2015.
The airport also has space for future expansion, and Bintan Resorts is already considering lengthening the runway in future to accommodate larger aircraft.
“This latest project is a further reflection of Bintan Resorts’ commitment to push ahead with a slew of enhancements and upgrades to boost its destination appeal”, said BG (Ret) Chin Chow Yoon, Executive Chairman of Bintan Resorts International. “With greater accessibility to the resort destination, this airport project will serve to enhance the value of the many investments already made here and to attract more investments in new resorts, holiday homes, food & beverage, retail and attractions, especially at the newly master-planned Lagoi Bay Development.”
Initially the airport will serve mainly domestic routes, charter flights from regional cities, and private jets. While the bulk of visitors to Bintan Resorts currently come from Singapore via a ferry link, the new airport is expected to broaden the resort’s appeal.
Bintan Resorts, which currently comprises 10 resorts, three golf clubs and a range of other attractions, is also currently adding a series of new accommodation units, holiday villas and retail facilities. Visitor numbers are expected to climb to more than one million by 2015 – up from 470,500 in 2011.