BANDUNG, Indonesia – State-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura Indonesia is preparing all operational facilities at Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung, West Java, ahead of the airport’s reactivation plan for commercial flights using jet airliners, scheduled for Sept 17. 

Currently, the airport serves only military flights, VIP/VVIP and charter flights.

The only commercial flight is operated by Susi Air using Cessna 208B Grand Caravan turboprop aircraft, linking Halim Perdanakusumah International Airport in East Jakarta and Nusawiru Airport in Pangandaran, West Java.  

Arie Ahsanurrohim, corporate secretary group head of the operator, also known as InJourney Airports, said the company continued coordination with all stakeholders to ensure that all operational aspects meet the standards set by the Transportation Ministry’s air transportation directorate general, tribunnews.com reported on July 19. 

“InJourney Airports has conveyed the operations and services plan at Husein Sastranegara Airport to airlines,” he said on July 18. 

“So far, six airlines have officially applied for permits to operate from Husein Sastranegara Airport.” 

The airlines have shown increased eagerness to reopen flights to and from Bandung.

Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has applied for flights to Bali using the Boeing 737-800NG narrow-body aircraft, the only type in its fleet that can land on Husein Sastranegara Airport’s 2,200m runway. 

Low-cost carrier (LCC) Citilink, a member of Garuda Indonesia, expects to operate flights to Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra; I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Badung, Bali; and Juanda International Airport in Sidoarjo, East Java. 

Citilink operates Airbus A320-200 and A320neo jetliners, as well as ATR 72-600 turboprop airplanes. 

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