Husein Airport in Bandung Set to Reopen, Government Assures Kertajati's Future is Secure
The plan to reactivate Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung has raised questions about the future of the West Java International Airport (BIJB) Kertajati. Amid the acceleration of Husein’s reopening for jet services, the Ministry of Transportation has stressed that Kertajati’s development remains a strategic government agenda and will not be abandoned.
Director General of Air Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, Lukman F. Laisa, stated that the reactivation of Husein Airport and the development of Kertajati are part of a national strategy to strengthen aviation connectivity in West Java through a Multi Airport System concept.
‘BIJB Kertajati is one of the national strategic infrastructures that plays a crucial role in supporting the development of air transport connectivity, national logistics, the aviation industry, and strengthening the economic ecosystem of the West Java region and western Indonesia,’ Lukman told CNBC Indonesia on Tuesday.
He added that Kertajati has enormous capacity and development potential, whether as a passenger flight hub, a logistics and cargo centre, an aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, or as part of the implementation of the Multi Airport System concept for the Jakarta and West Java areas.
The government is also preparing Kertajati’s role not only as a passenger airport but also as a logistics and aviation industry centre. The development of civil and defence aircraft maintenance facilities is a focus, aimed at strengthening the independence of the national aviation sector while creating a new economic growth centre in West Java.
‘Going forward, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation will strengthen cross-sector coordination to optimise the utilisation of BIJB Kertajati, support the implementation of the Multi Airport System policy, encourage increased passenger and cargo flight connectivity, accelerate the development of the airport’s supporting ecosystem, and ensure all development prioritises safety, security, service, and sustainability aspects,’ Lukman said.
Meanwhile, preparations for the reopening of Husein Sastranegara Airport are ongoing. Improvements are being made to both airside and landside facilities, including runway load-bearing capacity, the apron, terminal facilities, and compliance with Category 7 Aviation Accident Assistance and Fire Fighting (PKP-PK) standards. InJourney Airports also noted that at least six airlines have expressed interest in resuming flights from Bandung to various domestic and international destinations. The airlines and their proposed routes include Citilink to Kualanamu, Denpasar, and Surabaya; Super Air Jet to Kualanamu, Denpasar, Pekanbaru, Makassar, Batam, Padang, Balikpapan, and Pontianak; Garuda Indonesia to Denpasar; Transnusa to Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, and Lampung; Scoot to Singapore; and Wings Air to Lampung and Palembang.