US$108.7 million project to relocate international terminal and increase size of domestic terminal by more than 500%. Bisnis Bali Daily reported that the management of Ngurah Rai Bali International Airport, PT Angkasa Pura I, have allocated Rp. 1 trillion (US$108.7 million) from their 2009 budget for a 130,000 square meter expansion of the passenger terminal. When completed in 2011, the redeveloped facility will be capable of accommodating 16 million travelers every year.

The CEO of PT Angkasa Pura I, Bambang Darwoto, said “we have budgeted Rp. 1 trillion for the expansion of both the domestic and international terminals at the Ngurah Rai Airport.” Darwoto’s comments were made at a reception to introduce the Airport’s new general manager Heru Legowo.

The domestic terminal at Ngurah Rai presently occupies 13,000 square meters with the international terminal covering 70,000 square meters. Saying that the Bali passenger terminal can no longer handle current passenger levels, Darwoto added, “the Terminal Ngurah Rai is an old building dating from the 1970′s and is no longer adequate.” In the expansion plans, the 13,000 square meter domestic terminal will be enlarged to match the international terminal at 70,000 square meters. The new plans call for the international terminal to be shifted to the east in a location roughly equivalent to the current domestic terminal.

The newly installed Bali airport manager, Heru Legowo, asked the public for their support in the efforts to upgrade the airport. Legowo said, “We ask the support from everyone so that Ngurah Rai can become the best (airport).” He said he hoped that the people would adopt a disciplined mindset in how they use Bali’s sole airport. Legowo began his career with PT Angkasa Pura I as an air traffic controller at Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan in 1976. During his more than three decades of airport management, Legowo has managed the Lombok airport and served as the Commercial Manager of Ngurah Rai from 2002-2004.

News by Bali Discovery Tours – balidiscovery.com