East Kalimantan. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s presidential plane, the RJ-85, successfully made its inaugural landing at the VVIP Nusantara Airport in Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, East Kalimantan, on Tuesday. The historic touchdown took place at around 4 p.m. local time and was met with cheers and applause.

After arriving from Pontianak, West Kalimantan, President Jokowi expressed satisfaction with the airport’s readiness, despite its smaller size, emphasizing its ability to accommodate flights to and from the new capital.

"It was a very smooth landing. The airport here is small but more than adequate," Jokowi remarked.

Jokowi’s Plane Can Now Land at New Capital Airport: Minister

In a significant development, President Jokowi announced that Nusantara’s VVIP airport will be converted into a commercial facility. "I've instructed the Transportation Minister to immediately transition Nusantara Airport from VVIP status to a commercial one," he declared after the landing.

This transition will enable the general public to fly to and from Nusantara, with facilities supporting flights for purposes such as Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. The transformation into a commercial hub is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

“By December, we expect to have the capacity for 7 million passengers annually, up from the current 200,000 for VVIP operations,” Jokowi added.

The president plans to sign off on the airport’s commercial status before his term ends on Oct. 20. During his remaining weeks in office, Jokowi will be based in Nusantara and use the airport for any official travel.

This move to convert Nusantara Airport into a commercial gateway is part of the government's broader effort to ensure that the new capital serves not only elite travelers but the general public as well.

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