Bandung's Airport Is Getting Busier: Six Airlines Have Applied for Routes
Bandung is on the verge of a significant boost in air connectivity. Six airlines have formally applied to operate flights at Husein Sastranegara Airport, covering destinations across the Indonesian archipelago as well as several international cities. The news comes as airport operator InJourney Airports pushes ahead with an optimization program to return the West Java hub to full jet-flight service.
Which Airlines and Where They Want to Fly
According to InJourney Airports Corporate Secretary Group Head Arie Ahsanurrohim, the six carriers submitted their applications after the operator presented its operational and service plans for the airport. The proposed route map covers a broad spread of Indonesian cities and a handful of regional international gateways:
- Citilink is targeting Kualanamu, Denpasar, and Surabaya.
- Super Air Jet has the most ambitious domestic network, listing Kualanamu, Denpasar, Pekanbaru, Makassar, Batam, Padang, Balikpapan, and Pontianak.
- Garuda Indonesia has applied for a Denpasar route.
- Transnusa is focused on international connectivity, with Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, and Lampung on its list.
- Scoot has applied to serve Singapore.
- Wings Air is looking at Lampung and Palembang.
InJourney Airports says it will manage flight slot allocation to match demand against the airport's actual capacity.
Infrastructure Work Already Underway
The optimization program is not just about attracting airlines. Arie confirmed that physical and safety upgrades are progressing in line with requirements set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. On the safety side, the airport has sourced Foam Tender emergency vehicles and is meeting Category 7 aircraft rescue and firefighting standards. Security screening checkpoints are being upgraded with new x-ray machines, walkthrough metal detectors, and handheld devices. Airside, work is underway to increase the capacity of the runway, taxiway, and apron to handle jet traffic.
What This Means for Bandung's Economy and Tourism
Arie framed the connectivity push in explicitly economic terms, expressing the hope that improved flight access will support growth in both tourism and the broader West Java economy. Bandung has long attracted visitors from Jakarta and beyond for its cooler highland climate, culinary scene, and manufacturing outlets, but limited direct air access has historically funnelled most arrivals through road or rail. A wider route network, including direct links to Singapore and Malaysia, could meaningfully change the visitor mix.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Independent accommodation and experience operators in Bandung should treat this development as an early signal to review their visibility to travelers arriving by air. International routes from Singapore and Malaysia in particular suggest a potential uptick in visitors who are less likely to arrive by road from Jakarta. Updating property listings to highlight proximity to Husein Sastranegara Airport, and considering whether current pricing and availability calendars reflect potential demand from new source markets, are practical first steps. Operators who position themselves ahead of the route launches will be better placed to capture early bookings once schedules are confirmed.
The details in this post were first reported by Tempo.co on July 28, 2026, based on a written statement from InJourney Airports Corporate Secretary Group Head Arie Ahsanurrohim.
First reported by Bandung Travel.