Starting full operation: 2024, Kertajati Airport potentially serving up to 12 million passengers
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 - Mulai beroperasi penuh 2024, Bandara Kertajati berpotensi layani hingga 12 juta penumpang
30 October 2023
By: Tri Murti
Jakarta - Kertajati West Java International Airport (BIJB) in Majalengka, West Java is projected to serve around 5.6 million to 12 million passengers annually until 2024 and 29.3 million passengers annually in 2032. Currently, Kertajati Airport serves 16 flights daily with a seating capacity of 32,760 passengers weekly or 4,680 passengers daily.
Kertajati Airport officially commenced full operation on Sunday (29/10/2023) after jet aircraft flights were transferred from Husein Sastranegara Airport to Kertajati. Hence, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi hopes that all stakeholders will support the connectivity and the operation of Kertajati Airport as better connectivity will improve the economy and tourism potential.
“I hope that all stakeholders, including ministries/institutions, regional governments, tourism agencies, hotel players, travel [agents], and other related elements, will fully support the flights at Kertajati Airport,” the Transportation Minister said in his official statement in Jakarta on Sunday (29/10/2023).
Furthermore, the Transportation Minister said that accessibility from and to Kertajati Airport was increasingly easier and quick with Cisumdawu Toll Road and various modes of mass transportation. The mass transportation include Damri buses, travel services, taxis, and microbuses that provide transportation from several locations in Bandung Raya and other areas, such as Sumedang, Cirebon, Kuningan, Karawang, Majalengka, Tasikmalaya, Indramayu, Cimahi, Purwakarta, Subang, Ciamis, Banjar, and Pangandaran.
The management of PT Angkasa Pura/AP II (Persero) also stated that they were concerned about tourist visits in Bandung, West Java decreasing after the transfer of commercial flights from Husein Airport to Kertajati, but it can be anticipated by improving the land transportation access.
“I think that the concern will be realised if the anticipation or the mitigation is not realised, because the concern is regarding the land transportation access from and to Kertajati,” AP II President Director Muhammad Awaluddin said as quoted by Antara yesterday.
The AP II President Director also hopes that Bandung Local Government can respond by providing mass transportation to improve connectivity to Kertajati Airport.
“Bandung Local Government must progressively respond with mass transportation. It is what must be prepared by the regional government, especially if Bandung is worried about losing its visitors and tourists even though they are probably domestic tourists. Make it as easy and comfortable as possible, so they can get off at Kertajati to go anywhere else,” Awaluddin said.
Awaluddin continued that Bandung Local Government has planned to provide bus rapid transit (BRT) in Bandung Raya that is expected to support connectivity to Kertajati Airport. For other areas, he also hopes that they can respond by providing modes of transportation.
“If Bandung Local Government wants to respond to the situation, they can prepare a BRT programme in Bandung to go to Kertajati and vice versa. Regional governments around Kertajati include Cirebon, Majalengka, Indramayu, Sumedang, Karawang, and probably even Subang. If they see it as a large potential, they have to work together. The private sector seeing the opportunity alone is not enough,” Awaluddin explained.
Cheap tariff
On the other hand, Transportation Minister Budi is asking citizens in West Java to use Kertajati Airport to travel as ticket prices at Kertajati are quite cheap compared to other airports. Ticket prices at Kertajati BIJB are quite affordable thanks to the land fee discount provided for airlines that serve flights at the airport.
“One of the examples is the route from Kertajati Airport to Denpasar in Bali. The tariff [for the flight] to Bali is only around Rp600,000-Rp700,000. It is no longer an incentive. Bandung citizens can be lavish. From Jakarta, the flight can cost Rp1.4 million. The discount reaches 50%,” the Transportation Minister said.
Budi mentioned that the price cut applied to all domestic flight routes at Kertatjati Airport that has commenced full operation.
Besides the discount, Budi said that his agency also asked airlines, such as Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air, and AirAsia, to provide special tickets for passengers so that aircraft occupancy at Kertajati Airport increases.
“There is a concept called ‘crowd creates crowd’, so crowds attract numbers,” he said.
Furthermore, AP II is currently increasing umrah flights at Kertajati Airport to facilitate citizens in West Java.
“The number of umrah pilgrims in Indonesia this year reaches around 1.5 million pilgrims, and 60% or around 900,000 of the pilgrims are served at AP II airports. Around 80% or 900,000 of the pilgrims are served at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. We want some [of the pilgrims] to move from Soekarno-Hatta Airport to Kertajati Airport,” Awaluddin said.
On the other hand, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi inaugurated two maiden flights from Kertajati Airport on Sunday (29/10/2023). They consist of the flights of AirAsia from Kertajati to Denpasar that departed at 8:15 AM Western Indonesian Time (WIB) and Super Air Jet from Kertajati to Medan that departed at 8:30 AM WIB.
“In the maiden flights today, the occupancy reaches around 70-80%. On favourite routes that include Denpasar, Medan, and Balikpapan, occupancy is expected to increase during peak seasons, which are during the Christmas holiday and at the end of the year,” the Transportation Minister said yesterday.
The data from the Transportation Ministry shows that there are seven routes transferred from Husein Airport to Kertajati Airport, namely flights to Balikpapan (BPN), Banjarmasin (BDJ), Batam (BTH), Denpasar (DPS), Makassar (UPG), Medan (KNO), and Palembang (PLM). The seven routes are served by jet aircrafts of Citilink, AirAsia, and Super Air Jet.
Meanwhile, the international scheduled flight route to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia has operated in May 2023. The same goes for umrah and hajj flights.
In his official statement, Super Air Jet Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ari Azhari announced the launch of the newest Super Air Jet service that will bring young travellers to attractive destinations in West Java through Kertajati Airport.
“During the trip, travellers can enjoy the comfort of Airbus 320-200 that is extremely comfortable with a capacity of 180 seats in the economy class,” Ari said.
Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi also said that the reason why flights were transferred from Husein Sastranegara Airport to Kertajati Airport was to improve the safety and security factors of the flights.
“We require a longer runway than the one in Husein Airport so that large aircrafts, such as Boeing 777, can land. So, international flights from Asia, Europe, and other countries can land in West Java. That is why the flights were transferred to Kertajati Airport,” the Transportation Minister said.
Kertajati Airport reaches 1,800 hectares (ha) in size with its passenger terminal reaching 121,000 square metres (m2) and its cargo terminal reaching 90,000 m2. The runway spans 3,000 metres x 60 metres.
