Kalistani Major History

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ODEN-K and KalAir break ground on new Airport in Bianjie
Investment designed to facilitate commerce and Tourism in Dovani Nation
Namu jai Šun, Bianjie
August 12, 4909


Construction of New International Airport in Bianjie is underway on the site of an old General Aviation Airstrip near Namu jai Šun, Bianjie

In a move which is fairly uncharacteristic of Kalistani Capital, Republican Money is going to finance and construct a major new International Airport in The Democratic People's Republic of Bianjie.

"The Project is being largely financed by ODEN-K," said Assistant ODEN Director Vyolet Gardner, who is overseeing the project.  "We don't typically invest in something as capital intensive as a new international airport, but the project to get ODEN in Bianjie, which is our organization's first outpost on the Dovani continent is a major step forward, and it is in the Interest of the Organization to do what we can to promote this move, especially in a nation like Bianjie.  An ODEN outpost in the heart of Dovani, even if they are merely in the business of exporting organic precursors will be a major boon to ODEN's efforts to build a global network of drug suppliers and exporters, and to increase the quality and quantity of product, while helping to reduce the influence and power of the black market and market-based influences in drug sales.  An airport is a small price to pay to the gain that ODEN has made from having Bianjie join."

The International Airport, to be named at a later date by the Government in Bianjie, is built upon an old general aviation airstrip that served the resort town of Namu jai Šun.  "We chose this site because it is close to ODEN-B's warehouse facilities, but also because it is near the Šun&Sun resort," said Gardner.  "In this we can easily acquire product for import to Kalistan, as well as hosting daily and weekly flights for those interested in tourism.  Few passengers travel to Dovani from Kalistan, with the exception of Lourenne; despite the fact that KalAir has planes with the range to reach Bianjie, they are almost always underutilized on shorter trips, given that there is a large lack of welcoming landing and refueling infrastructure within range of KalAir's transcontinental jets.  An Airport in Bianjie will change that, making trips to the East possible."

ODEN-K looks forward to the importation of new varieties of cannibis and mushrooms from the natural grow operations being set up now in Bianjie.  "We have regular smokers who will always look for something new and exotic," said Gardner.  "New varieties from Bianjie will be very welcomed in Kalistan."  Gardner said she is attempting to pursuade the Bianjie Government to begin exploring grow opportunities for raw Coca and Opium in the People's Republic. "So far, they do not seem open to the idea, but the talks are still ongoing, and if it ever happens, they will have transportation infrastructure in place to begin exporting the product."

KalAir is a minor player on the deal, and looks forward to opening service to Bianjie.  "The airline seems to be interested in expanding tourism into Dovani," said Gardner.  "They have recently completed construction on the Šun&Sun Resort near where the airport will be built and this is an opportunity for Kalistanis to get out once more and see new parts of the world."

The airport construction, which will take about 5 and a half years, involves hardening and lengthening the run ways to accommodate multiple incoming Transcontinental passenger and cargo planes at a time.  A new Air traffic control tower will be erected as well, and new terminal and customs facilities will be constructed.  ODEN is working with Bianjie to provide labor for the project, and when completed, the facility will be able to handle 7 incoming jets at once via rotation, and could potentially accommodate more than 2500 passengers.  "We are not sure about taxes that will be levied against the airport facilities ," sad Gardner. " But, we can assure that costs to the International Airport in Bianjie will be significantly less than comparable flights, given that ODEN-K does not need to recoup or to make a profit." 

KalAir, the junior partner in the venture, also does not expect to charge much more than +3% overcost for all flights originating at Kaliburg International, and travelling to the Bianjie Airport, but as air service is still years off, the Airline will have plenty of times to work unexpected costs into its fleet and ticket prices, so that even if the trip is at a loss, the company itself will not be out any money that they would otherwise have had, without the accident.  An public airport in Bianjie will also be an effective counter to competing airports in the country.

Construction will carry on for the next 5 years on the airstrip, though ground has already been broken on the facility.