Indonesia Expands International Airport Network to Boost Tourism Growth

(INDONESIA) Indonesia has widened its gate to the world in 2025, naming five more international airports and moving big projects forward to back record tourism and regional growth. The Ministry of Transportation raised the national total from 17 to 22 international airports in early August 2025 under President Prabowo Subianto. The move, set by Minister of Transportation Decrees KM 26/2025 and KM 30/2025, follows checks on runway strength, terminal services, and links with roads and ports, along with on-site immigration, customs, and quarantine capacity.

The five airports are Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport (Palembang), H.A.S. Hanandjoeddin (Bangka Belitung), Jenderal Ahmad Yani (Semarang), Syamsuddin Noor (Banjarmasin), and Supadio (Pontianak).

Strategic intent and conditional oversight

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Indonesia’s step to reach 22 international airports marks a clear bid to spread tourism benefits beyond Bali while keeping a close eye on service quality. Officials emphasize that the new status is not automatic forever. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will review each location and can withdraw international rights if passenger or cargo numbers, flight frequency, or service standards fall short.

This conditional stance aims to:
– Match capacity with real demand
– Protect the traveler experience
– Allow the state to respond quickly if an airport grows fast—or fails to gain traction

For official notices and updates, the Ministry of Transportation posts policy documents and airport lists at https://www.dephub.go.id. Travelers and airlines can use the site to monitor airport status changes and operational advisories.

Regulatory focus: the 3S1C standard

The expansion aligns with the administration’s Asta Cita vision to build stronger links across the archipelago and boost global access. Key officials include Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa and Cabinet Secretary Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Indra Wijaya, who coordinate across economic, investment, and sector ministries.

Regulators will track the 3S1C standards—Safety, Security, Services, and Compliance—to ensure new international airports maintain the same baseline as long-standing gateways. The designation process weighs:

• Infrastructure readiness (runways, taxiways, terminals)
• Integration with other transport modes (roads, ports)
• Availability of immigration, customs, and quarantine services
• Flight and passenger projections

International status remains conditional, with regular checks to confirm real-world performance.

Tourism and infrastructure ripple effects

The timing coincides with a tourism rebound that is set to pass pre-pandemic levels.

Key tourism projections and figures:
– WTTC projects international visitor spending in Indonesia will reach IDR 344 trillion in 2025 (up 12.2% from the old peak).
– Tourism is on track to contribute 5.5% of GDP, about IDR 1,269.8 trillion.
– Tourism is expected to support nearly 14 million jobs (9.3% of the workforce) in 2025.
– Government target for 2025: 14.6–16 million international arrivals.
– From January–April 2025, Bali welcomed over 2 million air travelers from abroad—roughly two-thirds of foreign air arrivals.

Airlines are responding by expanding routes:
– Bali: new direct routes announced by TUI Airways (UK), Jetstar Australia, and Sichuan Airlines (China).
– T’way Air will launch Cheongju–Denpasar direct service in September 2025, flying twice weekly.
– Carriers increasingly link secondary East Asian cities directly to Indonesian tourism centers, cutting older transit paths.

Government estimate on economic impact:
– Each new international flight can create 7,000–10,000 jobs in its first year across airports, hotels, ground transport, and local shops.

Regional benefits from the five new international airports

The newly named airports will spread demand beyond Bali and support regional development:

• Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport (Palembang)
  Opens Sumatra’s south to direct foreign traffic—beneficial for tour groups and investors preferring point-to-point flights.

• Jenderal Ahmad Yani (Semarang)
  Supports Central Java and nearby heritage sites.

• Supadio (Pontianak)
  Brings West Kalimantan closer to regional markets.

• H.A.S. Hanandjoeddin (Bangka Belitung) and Syamsuddin Noor (Banjarmasin)
  Add new doors for island and Borneo travel that previously relied on domestic connections.

Major projects and capacity expansions

North Bali International Airport (NBIA)
– Planned location: Kubutambahan, Buleleng
– Target: late 2025 groundbreaking and initial runway opening in 2027
– Designed capacity: 32–50 million passengers per year
– Job impact: more than 200,000 jobs tied to construction and operations
– Estimated value: about USD 3 billion
– Features: offshore runways and an aerotropolis concept
– Status: feasibility and environmental studies complete; location permits are in process with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries

NBIA’s purpose is to ease pressure on Ngurah Rai Airport (nearing its 24 million passengers/year threshold) and to encourage more even growth across Bali’s regions.

Other airport upgrades under way:
– Yogyakarta International
– Komodo (Labuan Bajo)
– Zainuddin Abdul Madjid (Lombok)

These upgrades aim to handle larger aircraft and longer-haul flights, supporting direct links from new source cities and reducing travel times for families, tour groups, and business travelers.

Community engagement, environment, and investor interest

The state has laid out steps for:
– Environmental permits
– Land work and negotiations with indigenous groups
– Engagements with local leaders to protect culture and nature, especially in sensitive coastal zones

The tourism sector response:
– Hotel groups, transport firms, and tour operators expect more direct arrivals to bring steadier bookings outside peak seasons.
– Investors are watching North Bali, Lombok, and Labuan Bajo for property and service opportunities once airlines commit steady lift.
– Community voices stress the need for inclusive growth, with local jobs, fair prices, and green buffers remaining priorities.

Outlook and practical takeaways

Looking ahead:
– NBIA aims to be operational by 2027, pending permits and ongoing talks in 2025.
– Officials expect more direct international routes from secondary cities in East Asia and Australia to meet traveler demand for shorter travel times and fewer layovers.
– WTTC’s long-range view: tourism could add nearly IDR 1,900 trillion to GDP and support 17 million jobs by 2035, if momentum holds.

Practical guidance for travelers and industry:
– More choice on where to land and more chances to fly direct to regions that once required domestic hops.
– Because international status requires on-site immigration, customs, and quarantine, passengers should find core border checks in place as new airports ramp up service.
– Flight schedules and facilities will grow step by step; before booking, check airline notices and the Ministry of Transportation’s updates at https://www.dephub.go.id.

For airlines and airport operators, the message is clear: opportunity is real, and oversight will be steady. Under the 3S1C rule, quality comes first—and the state will keep international status tied to performance.