Airport: Making Kertajati busy again

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.

Bisnis Indonesia - Bandar udara: Membuat Kertajati sibuk lagi

8 January 2025

By Dea Andriyawan

The number of air passengers going through Kertajati Airport in Majalengka, West Java, saw a decline throughout 2024. However, international flight passengers increased significantly. Efforts to revitalise the airport in Majalengka are continued to boost West Java's economy.

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported that the number of air passengers at Kertajati Airport from January to October 2024 fell 60% compared to the same period last year, from 411,020 people to just 165,230 people. This decline was mainly due to a 67% drop in domestic flight passengers, from 396,980 people to just 131,650 people. Nevertheless, visits by domestic tourists increased by 7.86% to 136.39 million.

On the contrary, the number of international flight passengers from January to October 2024 surged by 139% compared to the same period the previous year, from 14,010 to 33,580 people. This increase in international passengers was driven by a rise in foreign tourist visits to West Java. BPS recorded that foreign tourist visits to West Java in the first ten months of 2024 soared by 187% to 9,237 visits.

The airport has benefited from the opening of the Cisumdawu Toll Road in July 2023, which has improved connectivity to the airport and the transfer of flights from Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung City since October 2023. Head of BPS West Java, Darwis Sitorus, stated that all foreign tourists visiting West Java enter through Kertajati Airport, Majalengka. "Malaysian citizens dominate the foreign tourist visits directly to West Java," he said on Monday (2/1).

According to its official website, there are five airlines operating flights at the airport, which has been in service since 24 May 2018. These include Super Air Jet (IU), which serves flights to Medan, Denpasar, and Balikpapan, and Citilink, which serves only the Balikpapan route. Three airlines serve international routes, namely AirAsia Benhard (AK) and Malaysia Airlines (MH) to Kuala Lumpur, and Scoot (TR) to Singapore. Charter services are available for routes to Saudi Arabia.

In line with efforts to attract more tourists and distribute visits, the airport, located 55 km west of Cirebon City, has the potential to continue the trend of increasing passengers, particularly for international routes. Head of the West Java Tourism and Culture Office, Benny Bachtiar, said that West Java is making various efforts to distribute tourist visits to prevent over-tourism in Greater Bandung and Bogor regions.

"We are trying to implement travel patterns in the Ciayumajakuning, East Priangan, and Southern West Java areas," said Benny Bachtiar on Tuesday (17/12). The Ciayumajakuning area covers five regencies and cities in eastern West Java, namely Cirebon, Indramayu, Majalengka, and Kuningan. 

The agency also involves influencers who can boost foreign tourist visits and aims to transform the Cirebon area into the 'Solo' of West Java. "Cirebon is becoming the Solo of West Java. Because culture develops there. So, we try to provide and prepare points of interest for international tourists," he said.

The agency is improving the quality of human resources to welcome tourists, especially international tourists. "So, they are prepared for international tourist visits. How to build hospitality, and more." Benny will involve the Indonesian Tourist Guide Association (HPI) and the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (Asita) at the regency and city level.

Hajj airport

In addition to the foreign tourist segment, Kertajati Airport's activity will increase as it will again become the official airport for departures and arrivals during the 2025 hajj season. Moreover, the airport in Majalengka will also be used by umrah pilgrims from both West Java and the bordering areas of Central Java. 

Acting Governor of West Java, Bey Machmudin, stated that the West Java International Airport (BIJB) Kertajati will remain the official airport for departures and arrivals during the 2025 hajj season. "The Regional Office Head has stated that Kertajati [Airport] can be maintained as an international airport because of the hajj departures," said Bey as quoted on Sunday (5/1). 

Director General of Hajj and Umrah Management of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Hilman Latief, said that the first batch of hajj pilgrims will depart for Saudi Arabia from 2-16 May 2025. The last batch of hajj pilgrims will depart on 31 May 2025. "By 1 May, the pilgrims will have entered the dormitory," said Hilman as quoted by Antara on Thursday (2/1).

Bey requested that facilities at the Indramayu Hajj Dormitory be improved. The airport and dormitory are key factors in the success of the hajj pilgrimage. 

Head of West Java Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ajam Mustajam, confirmed that Kertajati Airport will again be the departure and arrival point for hajj pilgrims. "Inshallah (God willing), in 2025, the Hajj Dormitory and Kertajati Airport will send off all West Java hajj pilgrims with a total of 60 batches." Ajam appreciates the West Java Provincial Government for providing a Rp18 billion grant for the Indramayu Hajj Dormitory. Tower 3 of the dormitory was being constructed in 2024, and plans for 2025 include building Tower 4, a hajj dormitory kitchen, and a health clinic.

Bank Indonesia mentioned that Ciayumajakuning is the area that could benefit most from the existence of Kertajati Airport. "Although it is located in Majalengka, the opportunities must be seized by the entire Ciayumajakuning region," said Head of Bank Indonesia Cirebon Representative, Hestu Wibowo.

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