Prabowo’s Husein Airport revival plan gains Air Force support
“We from Husein Sastranegara Air Base welcome every positive step toward progress for Bandung City and West Java. Regarding our readiness, we are well prepared to support the opening of the facility any time,” Air Base Commander Air Commodore Irman Fathurrahman said.
Speaking in Bandung on Monday, he noted that the airport’s infrastructure remains capable of accommodating large commercial jets, including those manufactured by Boeing and Airbus.
“This facility is still ready to serve flights. To date, the airport continues to serve military and VVIP flights,” he stated.
Fathurrahman highlighted that reopening the air base for commercial aviation is pending a decree from the Ministry of Transportation.
“The plan depends on the higher-ups. Once the Air Force receives an order and official letter from the Ministry of Transportation, our team will be ready,” he added.
While describing the airport’s aviation infrastructure as adequate, he acknowledged that governance and accessibility improvements remain necessary.
“We hope that road access leading to the air base and the airport will soon be enhanced. This includes the route connecting the Pasteur Toll Road to the airport complex,” the air base chief concluded.
President Prabowo Subianto officially floated the plan to revive commercial flight services at Husein Sastranegara Airport, a move welcomed by the Bandung municipal government.
Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan previously confirmed that the president had instructed the Ministry of National Development Planning to study the proposal in coordination with the Defense Ministry.
“We are looking forward to reactivation, given that Husein Airport is essentially not closed but is permitted only to serve scheduled commercial flights on propeller planes connecting cities within Java,” he remarked.
Farhan highlighted the airport’s potential to once again become Bandung’s main aviation gateway, noting that it served about 3.8 million passengers, including around 800,000 international travelers, in 2019.
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Translator: Rubby Jovan, Tegar Nurfitra