Socio Today
The Indonesian government, under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, has officially signaled a major shift in regional aviation policy by directing the reactivation of Husein Sastranegara International Airport in Bandung and Adi Sutjipto Airport in Yogyakarta for broader commercial use. This strategic move, welcomed enthusiastically by regional leaders, aims to restore the economic vitality of these two major urban centers by improving accessibility and leveraging existing infrastructure that has seen diminished activity following the migration of major flights to newer, more distant facilities.
The directive was confirmed by the Mayor of Bandung, Muhammad Farhan, who noted that the instruction followed the President’s recent working visit to the West Java capital. According to Farhan, the President envisions a collaborative reactivation process where both Husein Sastranegara and Adi Sutjipto airports are revitalized in tandem to support regional economic growth, tourism, and business connectivity. This policy marks a significant pivot from previous years, during which commercial jet operations were largely diverted to Kertajati International Airport in Majalengka and Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) in Kulon Progo.
The Strategic Importance of Husein Sastranegara Airport
For years, Husein Sastranegara International Airport served as the primary gateway to Bandung, a city renowned for its creative industries, culinary scene, and textile trade. However, following the full operation of Kertajati International Airport, Husein Sastranegara’s role was significantly curtailed. Currently, the airport is not entirely closed, but its commercial activities are strictly limited to scheduled flights using propeller-driven aircraft, such as the ATR 72, serving intercity routes within Java.
Mayor Farhan expressed strong optimism that the reactivation would restore Bandung’s strategic position as an economic engine. He highlighted historical data to underscore the airport’s potential, noting that in 2019, prior to the major shift in aviation policy and the global pandemic, Husein Sastranegara handled approximately 3.8 million passengers annually. This figure included 3 million domestic travelers and 800,000 international visitors, many of whom arrived from Malaysia and Singapore for shopping and leisure.
"We want to bring back the glory of Husein Sastranegara and the economic growth of Bandung City," Farhan stated. He emphasized that the convenience of an airport located within the city limits is a primary draw for tourists and business travelers who find the commute from Kertajati—which can take over two hours despite the Cisumdawu Toll Road—to be a deterrent.
Infrastructure Upgrades and Accessibility in Bandung
To support the President’s directive, the Bandung City Government is preparing a series of infrastructure improvements to ensure that the airport can handle a potential surge in traffic without causing localized congestion. A key priority is the refinement of entry and exit points surrounding the airport complex.
One of the major projects identified is the improvement of access routes from the Pasteur Toll gate. This involves navigating the area surrounding PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) base, which shares the runway with the commercial terminal. Furthermore, the completion of the Nurtanio Flyover is viewed as a critical milestone. This flyover is expected to streamline vehicle flow to the airport from both the western and eastern corridors of Bandung, mitigating the chronic traffic issues often associated with the city’s primary transit points.
The Mayor also addressed the ongoing status of Kertajati International Airport (BIJB). As a National Strategic Project (PSN), the future of Kertajati remains under the jurisdiction of the central government. Farhan clarified that while Bandung seeks to reactivate Husein Sastranegara, the local government has no authority over Kertajati’s development, which may include its evolution into a dedicated hub for aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.
Planning, Investment, and the 2026 Fiscal Outlook
The reactivation process is currently entering a formal study phase led by the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) in coordination with the central government. This study will outline the investment schemes required to upgrade facilities and manage operations. The proposed financial model suggests a tripartite partnership involving the central government, the provincial government of West Java, and the Bandung city administration.
"We hope that Bappenas will begin the calculations this year, including determining the sources of funding and the investment portion for each party," Farhan added.
Given that much of the 2025 and early 2026 budgets have already been allocated, the Mayor suggested that the project might utilize foreign loan schemes (Pinjaman Luar Negeri or PLN). He noted that the management of such funds would be strictly determined by the central government, as the entity utilizing the funds would also bear the responsibility for repayment. This fiscal prudence is intended to ensure that the reactivation is sustainable and does not place an undue burden on regional coffers.
Responding to the Call: The Sleman and Yogyakarta Context
Parallel to the developments in Bandung, the Regent of Sleman, Harda Kiswaya, has responded with equal fervor to President Prabowo’s plan for Adi Sutjipto Airport in Yogyakarta. Like Husein Sastranegara, Adi Sutjipto currently operates on a limited basis, with the majority of commercial jet traffic having moved to Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) in Kulon Progo in 2020.
Harda Kiswaya argued that the reactivation of Adi Sutjipto for more robust commercial use would significantly benefit the people of Sleman and the wider Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). "I am very pleased with this news. Having a functional airport close to the city center is a massive catalyst for economic growth. It facilitates social connectivity and brings us closer to other regions," Harda said during a meeting in Seyegan, Sleman.
While YIA is a modern facility capable of handling large wide-body aircraft, its distance from the heart of Yogyakarta (approximately 45 kilometers) has been a point of contention for travelers who prioritize speed and convenience. Harda believes that optimizing Adi Sutjipto for short and medium-haul commercial flights would trigger an increase in tourist arrivals.
"The logic is simple: when you make a destination easier to reach, people will come. This will trigger growth in our MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), the hospitality sector, and even the educational sector," Harda explained. He noted that the social dynamics of Yogyakarta, as a center for both tourism and higher education, rely heavily on efficient transportation links.
A Brief History of the Shift to Kertajati and YIA
The move to reactivate these city-center airports comes after a period of consolidation. In the mid-2010s, the Indonesian government embarked on an ambitious plan to build "mega-airports" to replace aging, land-locked facilities.
In West Java, Kertajati was built to relieve the congestion at Husein Sastranegara, which is constrained by its short runway and mountainous terrain. In Yogyakarta, YIA was constructed to replace Adi Sutjipto, which suffered from a lack of space for expansion and shared its runway with a busy military flight school.
However, the transition faced challenges. Kertajati struggled for years to attract passengers due to incomplete toll road connectivity, which was only resolved with the opening of the Cisumdawu Toll Road in 2023. Even with better roads, the travel time remains a factor. Similarly, while YIA is connected by a dedicated airport rail link, the proximity of Adi Sutjipto to the city center remains an attractive proposition for business travelers and weekend tourists.
Economic and Policy Implications: A Balanced Approach
President Prabowo’s directive suggests a "dual-airport" strategy for these regions, similar to models seen in major global cities like London (Heathrow and City Airport) or Tokyo (Narita and Haneda). In this model, the larger, distant airports (Kertajati and YIA) handle long-haul, high-capacity international and domestic flights, while the inner-city airports (Husein and Adi Sutjipto) cater to premium business travelers, short-haul regional hops, and point-to-point tourism.
Analysts suggest that this move could reinvigorate the "weekend economy" in Bandung and Yogyakarta. For Bandung specifically, the return of direct jet flights from cities like Medan, Denpasar, or Surabaya could restore the hotel occupancy rates that plummeted when travelers were forced to transit through Jakarta or drive long distances from Kertajati.
From a policy perspective, the reactivation must be balanced with the survival of the newer airports. The government will likely need to implement a regulatory framework that prevents destructive competition between the facilities. This might include slot management, weight restrictions, or specific route allocations to ensure that both the city airports and the regional hubs remain viable.
Conclusion and Timeline
The reactivation of Husein Sastranegara and Adi Sutjipto airports represents a pragmatic approach to regional development under the Prabowo administration. By listening to the concerns of local leaders and recognizing the inherent value of existing urban infrastructure, the central government aims to remove barriers to commerce and tourism.
As Bappenas begins its feasibility studies and financial modeling throughout the remainder of 2024 and 2025, the focus will shift toward technical readiness and safety standards. If the proposed timeline holds, the "re-entry" of these airports into the mainstream commercial aviation landscape could begin as early as 2026, marking a new chapter for the cities of Bandung and Yogyakarta. The move is expected to not only boost GDP at the regional level but also enhance the overall efficiency of Indonesia’s domestic aviation network.
