Husein airport expected to serve international flights

1 min readUpdated May 15, 2025Nov 11, 20163:14 AM

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Bandung, West Java – Indonesia’s state-owned airport services company, PT Angkasa Pura II, expects the Husein Sastranegara airport in Bandung, West Java, to start handling international flights from Bandung to cities in China or Bandung to Bangkok (Thailand) in 2017.

“The airport expansion project will be completed by the end of 2016. The new terminal will handle international flights. Among the potential markets is Bangkok or Phuket,” Angkasa Pura II”s general manager Dorma Manalu said here on Wednesday.

He added that the number of international direct flights from Bangkok and China to Indonesia has been increasing.

“Currently, the international flights from China are mostly to Manado, North Sulawesi and Pontianak, West Kalimantan,” Dorma noted.

According to him, nearly a 100 million Chinese tourists are visiting Indonesia every year, reflecting a good opportunity for Angkasa Pura II to start direct flights from Bandung to China or Thailand.

So far, direct international flights from Husein Sastranegara airport are for Bandung-Singapore, Bandung-Kuala Lumpur and Bandung-Johor Baharu (Malaysia).

“These are far fewer as of now, considering that the airport is now being expanded. Also, the airport is not too far from Bandung downtown,” Dorma explained.

Earlier, the management representatives of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) visited Kertajati international airport in Majalengka, West Java.

The President Director of the airport, Virda Dimas, explained that the Chinese corporation management was interested in Indonesia’s aviation industry and wants to confirm its plans to open international flights from the country to Kertajati since there is a fairly large Chinese market.

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What this means

Angkasa Pura II's expansion of Husein Sastranegara airport is a shrewd move to capture the lucrative Chinese and Thai tourist markets, which currently bypass Bandung. This strategy, focusing on direct flights from a city close to downtown, directly pressures existing Indonesian gateways like Manado and Pontianak, which have historically received the bulk of Chinese inbound traffic. While Tiffany & Co. And Miniso target store expansion in key Asian cities, this infrastructure play anticipates and facilitates a broader retail and tourism boom for Bandung. The risk lies in the timely completion and successful negotiation of these new routes, which could face competition from Kertajati's own Chinese overtures. We will be watching for specific airline and route announcements by early 2017.

Maria Santos · Retail News Asia newsroom

Questions & Answers

Which international destinations will the expanded Husein Sastranegara airport serve?

The airport is expected to handle international flights from Bandung to cities in China or Bandung to Bangkok. Potential markets also include Phuket, Thailand, alongside existing routes to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baharu.

When is the expansion project at Husein Sastranegara airport due for completion?

The airport expansion project at Husein Sastranegara is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. The new terminal resulting from this expansion will then handle the international flights.

Why does PT Angkasa Pura II see a good opportunity for direct flights from Bandung to China or Thailand?

The company sees this as a good opportunity because nearly 100 million Chinese tourists visit Indonesia every year. This substantial market indicates strong demand for direct international routes.

What are the current main international flight destinations from China to Indonesia?

Currently, most international flights from China primarily go to Manado in North Sulawesi and Pontianak in West Kalimantan. This shows current popular entry points for Chinese tourists into Indonesia.

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