Minangkabau International Airport Beautified to Showcase Local Wisdom
PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (Persero), the branch office of Minangkabau International Airport (BIM), is carrying out a beautification and revitalisation programme for the passenger terminal to improve service standards and user comfort. This strategic move also aims to strengthen West Sumatra’s identity at the airport, which serves as the main gateway for tourists. The beautification programme covers various aspects, from updating interior aesthetics and reorganising commercial areas to enhancing facilities within the terminal.
General Manager of Minangkabau International Airport, Dony Subardono, stated that the beautification programme represents a commitment to providing the best travel experience for every passenger, including tourists visiting the Minang realm. “We want Minangkabau International Airport to be not just a place to board and disembark from aircraft, but also a cultural showcase that is friendly, modern, and a source of pride for the people of West Sumatra,” he told the media on Friday (19/6/2026).
Dony explained that the beautification programme has four main focuses. First, a modern Minangkabau cultural touch, achieved through a visual transformation of the interior blending modern architecture with traditional Minangkabau motifs such as Kaluak Paku and Pucuak Rebung carvings. Second, improved facilities and comfort through the refurbishment of boarding lounges, ambience optimisation, and toilet upgrades to meet global standards and be disability-friendly. Third, passenger flow management by rearranging the layout of check-in and commercial areas to create smoother, more spacious, and seamless passenger movement. Fourth, the provision of indoor greenery by adding green landscape elements at strategic points to bring a lush, cool, and calming atmosphere for passengers.
Furthermore, the airport also aims to deliver a customer experience that engages all five senses. This experience is realised through visual elements (sight) by showcasing Minangkabau culture, touch elements through the use of traditional attire at every event, sound elements with live regional music performances in the terminal, taste elements with tenants serving West Sumatran cuisine and tenant designs based on the Rumah Gadang concept, and smell elements through the use of special fragrances in the terminal area.
Despite undergoing the beautification phase, Dony confirmed that the process is strictly managed so as not to disrupt flight operations or passenger comfort. Physical work areas are neatly partitioned, and heavy work is carried out during off-peak flight hours or at night. Management has informed that there are slight changes to passenger flow and work at several points that may cause minor inconvenience during the beautification period, with the initial phase planned for completion by early Q3 2026 and the overall project by Q4 2026. After beautification, Minangkabau International Airport will present a fresher appearance, ready to welcome the growth in tourist traffic and support the sustainable advancement of the economic and tourism sectors in West Sumatra.