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Erick Thohir Expects Bali To Build New Airport In 2027

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir has announced plans to begin construction of a new airport in Bali by 2027, with the growing number of passengers at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Kuta district, Badung regency, as one reason for the construction. 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.

Tag: Erick Thohir I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport