3 Indonesian airports certified international in bid to join world's best by 2029

Iwan Winaya Mahdar, General Director of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport in Palembang, said that the three airports are SMB II Airport in Palembang, HAS Hanandjoeddin Airport in Bangka Belitung and General Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang.

Previously, in April 2024, Indonesia issued a decree to reduce the number of international airports from 34 to 17. This move aimed to optimize aviation operations, focus resources on airports with high international traffic and improve service quality.

Indonesia aims to have airports among the world's top 10 by 2029. To achieve this, the government is investing in infrastructure, technology and customer service at airports. However, challenges remain in service quality.

With more than 600 airports nationwide, Indonesia has an extensive airport network connecting islands and regions. Focusing on the 20 major international airports is expected to help the country optimize resources and improve experiences for international passengers.