The airport is Indonesia’s second busiest airport after Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten, and currently serves 32 million passengers annually. The capacity at Bali’s main airport is expected to reach its limit by 2029-2030.

To anticipate this surge, Erick emphasized the need to build a new airport in the coming years.

"If there are 32 million [passengers] in 2029-2030, it means that there needs to be a plan to start construction in 2027. [We can’t] say, ‘oh, it's still a long time until [we reach] 32 million’,” Erick said during an inspection at Ngurah Rai International Airport on Thursday, as quoted by kompas.com.

“[If] we just [begin thinking] to start construction in 2029, it would be too late." 

Erick also referenced President Prabowo Subianto’s vision for a new international airport in northern Bali, specifically in Buleleng regency. This project is part of a broader effort to transform northern Bali into a major economic hub, similar to cities like Singapore or Hong Kong.

However, Erick was still reluctant to be involved in deciding the location of the new airport.

He emphasized that the decision on the airport’s location rests with both the central government and regional administrations.

"That means the decision on the development of an additional airport in Bali is up to the central government and regional administrations, we are just a corporation. Construction must start in 2027," he said.

In addition to the main airport, Bali already has a smaller airport in Sumberkima village, Gerokgak district, Buleleng regency, the Lt. Col. Wisnu Airport. A Buleleng regency administration’s management unit manages the airfield.

The airfield was built by the regency administration and started operation in 2007. The Buleleng administration, however, only has 2 hectares (ha) out of the 15 ha of the airfield, as much of the land belongs to the Bali provincial administration, bisnis.co.id reported.

The Buleleng regency administration has already planned to raise the airfield’s status to a commercial airfield, but this was contested by the Bali administration.

The airfield is designated as a special airfield for flight school activities. However, the airfield has been on hiatus since 2023, as the flight school that once operated at Lt. Col. Wisnu Airport did not extend its contract to use the airfield.

The airfield has a runway of 900 meters and and can accomodate smaller aircraft such as the Cessna 172, which is popular among flight schools, up to the DHC-6 Twin Otter twin turboprop aircraft.

As a comparison, the I Ngurah Rai International Airport has a runway of 3,000 m and can handle widebody aircraft, including the super jumbo Airbus A380, such as those operated by Emirates, linking the airport with Dubai International Airport once daily.

Emirates deployed a second A380 for seasonal demands from Sept. 1 to Oct. 26.

 

Traffic jam

In addition to the new airport plans, Erick addressed the need for improved coordination at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport ahead of the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays.

"We hope everyone will [be well] coordinated so that nothing undesirable happens. This is just a matter of synchronization and communication," Erick said, as quoted by kumparan.com.

Severe traffic congestion around I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport forced passengers to walk approximately 2.5 kilometers from the Bali Mandara toll road to the airport in 2023.

To prevent similar issues this year, state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia has implemented several upgrades, including building a pedestrian bridge, expanding the entrance to six lanes and extending operating hours to 24 hours a day.

"Of course, we will work together with all stakeholders to ensure that all of the services we provide can be maximized during the holidays," said Angkasa Pura Indonesia president director Faik Fahmi. (nvn)