Indonesia’s First Green Airport Ready for Operations

Indonesia’s first airport built on the green concept in Banyuwangi, East Java, is ready to start operations, Banyuwangi District Head Abdullah Azwar Anas stated on Saturday.

“It has been ready. God willing, before Eid, it will become operational with the realization of a direct flight service on the Jakarta-Banyuwangi route. There are some technical matters that need to be addressed,” he noted during a visit to the Blimbingsari Airport in the district.

He explained that the new airport will become a tourism icon to offer sufficient room to accommodate passengers following an increase in the number of air travelers by more than 1,300 percent in the past five years.

Anas said the architectural concept of a public space must not be made arbitrarily, adding that so far, it has been difficult to implement architectural principles that break standards in projects funded by the government due to a conventional concept or administrative constraints.

“However, in Banyuwangi, we have given room to work that goes beyond the mainstream. Besides the airport, other public facilities, such as parks, campus, halls, marketplace, and tourist destinations, have been built based on thoroughly considered architectural principles,” he emphasized.

Anas pointed out that the concept for the airports development was aimed at meeting three goals, with the first being a tourism icon and secondly, ensuring a transfer of knowledge from national to local architects.

It was hoped that in future, all buildings, including restaurants and shop houses, would have a clear architectural concept, Anas stated.

“Buildings, with characteristic architectural designs, can serve as examples for public and private parties. People can follow concepts that are simple but iconic,” he noted.

The third goal is that they will be functionally effective and sustainable as well as efficient, he remarked, adding that the new terminal will be energy efficient in line with the concept of a tropical house that uses natural air for ventilation.

He pointed out that the new terminal will be iconic, as it adopts the concept of the local traditional Osing communitys house.

“Local wisdom has been adopted to boost Banyuwangis local arts and culture by providing a large gallery, so that all will be accommodated,” he stated.

A public building is not just a project but must also offer economic benefits to the community and help in social-cultural development, Anas added.