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 - Ambisi Bandara Soekarno-Hatta Gaet 94 Juta Penumpang
6 May 2025
By Heru Febrianto
Jakarta, ID – Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten, continues to make improvements. After transforming Terminal 2F into a dedicated terminal for Hajj and Umrah, next year Terminal 1F will be used exclusively for low-cost carriers (LCCs).
The Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), Erick Thohir, stated that PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia, or InJourney Airports, is currently revitalising Terminal 1 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Once completed, Terminal 1F will serve LCC airlines for international routes.
"God willing, we will inaugurate the low-cost Terminal 1F in the first quarter of 2026," Erick said after attending the inauguration of the Hajj and Umrah Terminal 2F facilities at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, as quoted on Monday (5/5/2025).
According to Erick, the terminal upgrades at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport aim to increase visitor capacity, targeting 94 million passengers annually. "After Terminal 2F, we will upgrade Terminal 1 for low-cost carriers," he added.
Currently, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport has a total capacity of 56 million passengers per year. With optimisation in each terminal, it is expected to increase the number to 90 million passengers.
The reorganisation of terminals at Indonesia's busiest airport is also an effort to enhance passenger comfort. The airport is considered the first and last impression seen by international tourists.
It is known that Citilink, which was initially located in Terminal 3, began operating in Terminal 1 on 15 March 2025. Subsequently, TransNusa will also move after Eid 2025.
PT Aviasi Pariwisata Indonesia (Persero), or InJourney, through its subsidiary PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia or InJourney Airports, initially targeted the relocation of all LCC airlines to Terminal 1 by the end of 2025. However, this transition will be carried out gradually, in line with the revitalisation of several terminals.
Notably, several airports in ASEAN also have dedicated terminals for LCC flights. In May 2014, Malaysia inaugurated Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2), which became a low-cost carrier airport, replacing the old Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). The old LCCT will be repurposed as a cargo service terminal.
In addition to Malaysia, Thailand also has a dedicated LCC terminal at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, with a capacity of up to 30 million passengers per year. Currently, the airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 for international flights and Terminal 2 for domestic flights. Future expansions aim to increase capacity to 50 million passengers per year through terminal expansion and new construction.
Meanwhile, independent aviation analyst Gatot Rahardjo stated that the government needs to focus on revitalising the aviation industry, which is struggling due to the global crisis. "No matter how good the airport is, if flights are empty, it will not make a difference. The current focus should be on how to attract passengers," he told Investor Daily.
Gatot explained that the aviation industry in Indonesia is in a sluggish state with a low number of passengers. Therefore, he said, the government must stimulate the industry through various approaches. "Whether it is providing incentives or other measures, this needs to be done amid the global situation and the high exchange rate of the rupiah against the US dollar," he said.
He added that there are only a few opportunities after the Eid homecoming period to maintain high passenger numbers. "After Eid, there might still be the Hajj and Umrah seasons, but beyond that, the government needs to think about what to do next. Should we rely on international or domestic passengers?" he concluded.
Passenger numbers decline
Meanwhile, the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded a decline in the number of domestic and international air transport passengers in March 2025 on a month-to-month (mtm) basis.
Pudji Ismartini, Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics at BPS, explained that the number of domestic air transport passengers departing in March 2025 was 4.3 million, down 2.57% compared to February 2025. The number of international passengers decreased by 9.93% to 1.4 million.
"During January-March 2025, the number of domestic passengers was 13.8 million, down 0.38%, and the number of international passengers was 4.7 million, up 11.71%, compared to the same period in 2024," Pudji said at a press conference last weekend.
In March 2025, the decline in passenger numbers occurred at all major observed airports, namely Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) by 19.53%, Kualanamu (Medan) by 11.14%, Hasanuddin (Makassar) by 10.90%, Juanda (Surabaya) by 7.93%, and Soekarno-Hatta (Tangerang) by 3.36%.
The largest number of domestic passengers was at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, reaching 1.2 million or 27.83% of the total domestic passengers, followed by Juanda with 331,000 passengers or 7.70% of the total domestic passengers.
For the January-March 2025 period, the number of domestic air transport passengers was recorded at 13.8 million, down 0.38% compared to the same period last year, which was 13.9 million. The largest number of passengers was recorded at Soekarno-Hatta, reaching 3.8 million or 27.29% of the total domestic passengers, followed by Juanda with 1.1 million passengers or 8.06% of the total domestic passengers.
For the decline in international air passenger numbers in March 2025, it occurred at Hasanuddin Airport by 30.95%, Kualanamu by 26.43%, Juanda by 18.51%, and Soekarno-Hatta by 9.94%. Conversely, the number of passengers increased at Ngurah Rai Airport by 0.38%.
The largest number of international passengers was at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, reaching 653,200 or 45.85% of the total international passengers, followed by Ngurah Rai with 526,000 passengers or 36.93% of the total international passengers.
During January-March 2025, the number of international air transport passengers, both using national and foreign airlines, was 4.7 million, up 11.71% compared to the same period last year.
The largest number of international passengers was at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, reaching 2.1 million or 45.34% of the total international passengers, followed by Ngurah Rai with 1.7 million passengers or 35.19%.
Contact us
