IKN's Nusantara Airport Designated for VIP Use, Not Commercial Flights: Govt

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Directorate General of Air Transportation of the Indonesian Transportation Ministry has clarified the airport's status in the new capital city of Nusantara (IKN), which is named Nusantara Airport. The airport, which is currently under construction, is intended for VVIP flights, rather than commercial ones.

“The key point is that this is a special-purpose airport, not one for commercial airlines,” Secretary of Air Transportation DG, Sigit Hani Hadiyanto, said on the the sidelines of the Indonesia AERO Summit 2024 in Jakarta on Tuesday, July 2.

Sigit emphasized that a presidential regulation designates Nusantara Airport as VVIP and its future commercial use remains undecided. “The current regulation clearly defines it as a VVIP facility,” he added.

He explained that the airport is planned to serve state guests and government activities within the IKN. Additionally, it will not have a code assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as those are typically reserved for commercial airports.

“The airport is specifically designed for VVIP operations within the IKN. Its current status is confirmed as VVIP,” he reiterated.

Sigit added that the airport is targeted for operation by August 2024, ahead of the celebration of Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day on August 17.

Previously, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi expressed plans to register the Nusantara Airport with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for international recognition.

“I received the name of the airport from the president just last week. This will be the basis for us to register Nusantara Airport internationally, similar to Soekarno-Hatta with the code CGK or Kualanamu Airport with the code KMO,” Budi Karya said in Semarang, Central Java, on Sunday, June 16.

Nusantara Airport will eventually receive an ICAO code, following the format used by other Indonesian airports. “We'll choose an unused code, possibly NAP or something similar,” he added.

The ICAO certification process is expected to take about a month. “We will soon finalize the name of Nusantara Airport and proceed with the international registration,” Minister Budi said, hoping that it would be completed before Indonesia's Independence Day celebrations at IKN in East Kalimantan.

AISHA SHAIDRA

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