Land status at IKN VVIP airport no longer an issue
This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Investor Daily - Status lahan di bandara VVIP IKN tak lagi bermasalah
27 June 2024
By Ichsan Amin
Jakarta, ID – The Land Bank Agency stated that the land status at the VVIP airport in Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in North Penajam Paser in East Kalimantan has been resolved and was no longer an issue.
Land Bank Agency Head Parman Nataatmadha explained that the land management rights have been released to the Transportation Ministry.
“The management rights have been released by the Land Bank Agency. The management rights are transferred to the Transportation Ministry. It is logged as a state asset of the Transportation Ministry,” Parman said, quoted by Antara on Wednesday (26/6/2024).
Therefore, Parman continued that the land for the IKN VVIP airport has been provided to the Transportation Ministry. “The status is clean and clear. The social and community impact handling (PDSK) programme has been implemented by North Penajam Paser Regency Government. It is completed, the focus is now to accelerate the [airport] construction,” he stated.
The Land Bank Agency is a special Indonesian legal entity that was established by the central government, granted special rights to manage state lands.
In the future, the IKN airport will be able to accommodate wide-body aircraft, such as Boeing 777-300 ERs and Airbus A380s. The construction of the airport is expected to boost economic growth and tourism in East Kalimantan. The construction implements a multiyear contract from fiscal years 2023 to 2024.
The concept of the IKN airport will integrate local nuances that highlight the culture of Kalimantan, but it will remain modern and eco-friendly. The IKN VVIP airport in East Kalimantan has the potential to be a commercial airport.
An aviation observer, Gatot Rahardjo, stated that the government could target to complete the IKN airport construction with a trial run and a maiden flight. “However, a further process is required. A trial run requires certification from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO),” he told Investor Daily.
He added that the airport development was possible due to the government’s support to construct an airport in IKN. “I think it can develop as long as the passenger potential is high. There is a certainty that civil servants (ASN) will relocate to IKN, which will become a market for airlines that operate routes from and to IKN,” he added.
Ready to operate
Previously, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi made another visit to the construction site of the IKN airport.
“This is the second time I visited the IKN airport project in June 2024. I want to ensure that the airport can operate on 1 August 2024 to support connectivity in IKN, particularly approaching the Independence Day ceremony,” Transportation Minister Budi Karya said, as quoted on Wednesday (26/6/2024).
Previously, Budi Karya visited its key locations, such as its runway and terminal buildings. According to him, the construction progress of these and other supporting facilities has shown significant progress and development.
“Compared to conditions several weeks ago, the progress is evident, particularly regarding the runway and terminal buildings. I highly appreciate the hard work of the Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Ministry and the workers in advancing this airport project,” the Transportation Minister revealed.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya explained that the runway at the IKN airport was currently in the first layer of paving. So, it is expected to accommodate narrow-body aircraft by 1 August 2024. “However, the IKN airport will eventually be able to accommodate wide-body aircraft, as additional layers of pavement will be added in subsequent stages,” he added.
Furthermore, he added that the weather played a significant role in the construction of the IKN airport. He hopes the weather in IKN will remain bright with little to no rain.
“East Kalimantan has experienced prolonged rainfall. If this continues, the construction of several airport facilities, especially the runway, will be suboptimal. Ideally, the runway should be built in dry weather to achieve the best results,” the Transportation Minister explained.
The physical construction progress of the IKN airport until the 27th week includes several aspects. For the VVIP terminal, this involves roof work, electrical work, and plumbing. At the VIP terminal, progress includes column construction, plumbing pipe installation, steel frame installation, and wall construction. In the ATC building, work on the plating structure on the 4th floor is underway, along with the office structure, plumbing pipe installation, and wall construction. The administration and operations building has seen progress in column construction, plumbing installation, steel roof installation, and wall construction. The PK-PPK building is currently undergoing mini pile construction and plumbing pipe installation. Finally, at the substation building, structural work on the upper concrete slab is in progress.
