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The government on Tuesday ascribed international status to 40 airports, up from 22 previously. The move adds airports in densely populated East Java province and strategic industrial locations like Weda Bay and Morowali Industrial Park \u2014 key hubs for nickel production.<\/p>\n
Airports must first prepare immigration, customs and quarantine services and comply with international safety standards before accepting overseas flights, Transportation Ministry Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\nAlso read |<\/strong>\u00a0Sunseeking Germans face Swiss backlash over Alpine holiday congestion<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe international status of an airport carries no small responsibility,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The expansion reflects President Prabowo\u2019s recent directive for officials to maximize direct international flights nationwide to stimulate regional tourism and business across the archipelago nation.<\/p>\n The previous administration last year halved the number of international airports to 17, in part to curb costs. Officials said then that only five of Indonesia\u2019s international airports, including Jakarta and Bali, operated regular overseas flights to various countries, while the rest offered only limited routes or none at all.<\/p>\n Also read |\u00a0<\/strong>Seven cities to visit in Russia that are scenic and safe<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n