39 New Airports Ready for Construction
The Ministry of Transport (Kemenhub) is currently preparing 39 locations for the construction of new airports throughout Indonesia. This strategic move aims to strengthen national connectivity, expand air transport access, and support the even distribution of economic development across various regions.
The Director General of Civil Aviation at the Ministry of Transport, Lukman F Laisa, revealed that there are currently 257 operational airports. With the planned addition of 39 new locations, the total National Airport Master Plan will encompass 296 airports.
“This network reflects the government’s commitment to providing equitable connectivity, even to the outermost, remote, and underdeveloped (3T) regions,” said Lukman while opening the National Deliberation (Munas) of the Indonesian Airport Experts Association (IABI) 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday (1/7).
As the largest archipelagic nation, Indonesia requires a reliable air transport network to boost the tourism sector and facilitate access to public services. Lukman explained that airport construction in Indonesia often faces complex geographical conditions.
National aviation infrastructure has been successfully built across various land characteristics, ranging from swampland, peatlands, and coastal areas to mountainous regions and small islands. This success has been achieved through the application of engineering technology and evolving construction innovations.
“Moving forward, airport development must not only focus on physical infrastructure but must also prioritise safety, sustainability, the use of technology, and resilience to climate change,” he emphasised.
The Ministry of Transport emphasised that the success of the national airport transformation depends heavily on the quality of human resources. Lukman encouraged the IABI to strengthen its role as a professional organisation capable of producing experts who are professional and adaptive to the latest technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI).
He expressed hope that the IABI could develop professional certification systems that are recognised internationally, enabling Indonesian experts to contribute to airport projects at both regional and global levels.
The Chairman of the Indonesian Aviation Service Users Association (APJAPI), Alvin Lie, who also attended the forum, stated that this gathering of experts is crucial for improving the national aviation ecosystem.
Alvin hoped that this discussion forum could produce concrete ideas and solutions to face the dynamics and challenges of the current aviation industry. Through collaboration between the government, academics, operators, and professional organisations, an innovative, safe, and internationally competitive airport ecosystem is expected to be created.