Indonesia Set To Revive Project For Second Bali Airport

SINGAPORE—The new Indonesia government of President Prabowo Subianto reportedly is restarting the second north Bali airport project, after nearly a decade of starts and stops.

The new airport is expected to ease the pressure on Bali Denpasar Airport (DPS), Indonesia’s second busiest.

Citing a government official, the Straits Times reported the newly inaugurated Subianto administration has shown interest in moving the project forward.

The new airport will be situated in Buleleng regency, about 2 hr. by car from the current airport. It is hoped the new facility will draw tourists northward and reduce congestion near DPS.

First proposed in 2015, the project did not get the backing of then-President Joko Widodo.

In 2022, the company behind the airport, PT Bandara International Bali Utara, signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the China Construction First Group (CCFG) to build the airport for IDR50 trillion ($3.2 billion).

Currently 56.4% of the seats departing from DPS are on international flights, with Australia, Malaysia and Singapore the key markets, according to CAPA/OAG data.