Indonesia's transport ministry will force carriers operating domestic jet services from Bandung's Husein Sastranegara airport to destinations outside of Java to move them to the underutilised West Java International airport in Kertajati.
Transport minister Budi Karya Sumadi says 28 flights will move from Bandung to Kertajati between 20 June to 1 July, with Bandung set to only handle turboprop and international flights.
Carriers that have agreed to move their operations include Garuda Indonesia and its low-cost unit Citilink, Lion Air Group carriers Lion Air and Wings Air, as well as Sriwijaya Air and Nam Air.
Cirium schedules data shows that 13 destinations outside of Java will be affected by the move, including Balikpapan, Denpasar, Makassar and Medan. Most of these routes are operated by Lion Air.
Sumadi explains the runway in Bandung is short and the airport is surrounded by residential areas. By moving the domestic jet services out, carriers will be able to begin turboprop services to destinations within Java it is not connected to, such as Tasikmalaya.
Data from Indonesia's directorate general of civil aviation shows that the airport's 2,250m runway is capable of supporting jets up to the size of Boeing 737s.
The West Java International airport began operations in June 2018, but local media reports indicate airlines that used to fly out of Kertajati have since ceased those operations due to low passenger demand. Poor land transport infrastructure connecting the facility to other parts of the province, its distance from Bandung, and a dedicated toll road linking eastern and western ends of Java island have been cited as reasons passengers have avoided the airport.
Cirium schedules data shows that Citilink is the only carrier left, flying on the Surabaya-Kertajati-Medan route, but it no longer appears to be bookable.
State-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura II manages the airport, which is located approximately 114km northwest of Bandung, the capital of West Java province.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
