Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport(IATA: BTJ, ICAO: WITT), formerly known as Blangbintang Airport, is an international airport serving Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh Province in Indonesia. While it primarily serves Banda Aceh, the airport is not located within the city itself; it lies in Aceh Besar Regency, approximately 13.5 km (8.4 miles) southeast of the city center. The airport is named in honor of Sultan Iskandar Muda, the twelfth ruler of the Aceh Sultanate, who reigned from 1607 to 1636 and is recognized as a national hero of Indonesia. As the main air gateway to Banda Aceh and the broader Aceh region, the airport plays a vital role in regional connectivity. It offers regular domestic flights to major cities such as Jakarta and Medan, and maintains international routes to Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia
In addition to functioning as a commercial airport, it also hosts the Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Force Base, a Type B facility of the Indonesian Air Force. The airbase is situated southeast of the passenger terminal, across the runway.
History
The airport was originally constructed by the Japanese in 1943 during World War II, serving as a military airbase to support their operations against Allied forces during the occupation of Indonesia.[3] It was initially known as Blangbintang Airport, named after the district where it is located. Before this airport was built, there had been another airport in Lhoknga, constructed by the Dutch colonial government.[4] This airport was seized by the Japanese during their invasion in 1942 and repurposed as a military airbase. Together with Blangbintang, both airbases became key strongholds for the Japanese during the war.[5]
In its early years, Blangbintang Airport featured a T-shaped runway measuring 1,400 by 30 meters. Following Japan's surrender, the airbase remained closed for several years. During this period, the Japanese left behind a large stockpile of weapons at the base, which was eventually seized by local Acehnese militias.[5]
After the Indonesian National Revolution, the airport remained inactive for several years before being reopened in 1953 by the newly independent Indonesian government. The first aircraft to land after its reopening was a DC-3 Dakota, known in its military variant as the C-47. In 1968, the airport underwent a runway expansion, extending its length to 1,850 by 45 meters. Further development took place in 1993 and 1994 ahead of the Musabaqah Tilawatil Quran (MTQ) festival held in Banda Aceh, during which the runway was extended again to 2,250 by 45 meters. This upgrade enabled the airport to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Douglas DC-9 and Boeing 737.[3]
In 1995, the airport was renamed to its current name in honor of Sultan Iskandar Muda, a prominent ruler of the Aceh Sultanate who reigned from 1607 to 1636 and is recognized as a national hero of Indonesia. He is widely remembered for ushering in the golden age of the Aceh Sultanate, during which it became a prosperous and dominant power in the region. Sultan Iskandar Muda is also celebrated for his resistance against Portuguese colonial expansion in Southeast Asia.[6] This was followed by another runway extension in 1999, increasing its length to 2,500 meters to accommodate medium-sized aircraft such as the Airbus A330, in preparation for the commencement of Hajj flights for pilgrims traveling to Jeddah.[7]
During the insurgency in Aceh, the airport served as a strategic launch point for aircraft of the Indonesian Air Force, which carried out attacks on Acehnese rebels.[8] It also became a key arrival point for Indonesian troops preparing for military operations in the region. On 19 May 2003, 458 Indonesian paratroopers landed near the airport as part of an offensive against Acehnese rebels.[9][10]
The airport sustained significant damage following the powerful earthquake and tsunami that devastated Aceh on December 26, 2004. However, the airport was fortunate to avoid direct impact from the tsunami waves, enabling it to remain operational. During the emergency response phase, the airport played a crucial role as a central hub for international aid. All logistics sent to support the people of Aceh were processed through the airport before being distributed to various affected regions. Additionally, the area surrounding the airport was utilized as a temporary refuge for displaced individuals during the crisis.[3]
Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport got World's Best Airport for Halal Travellers in the World Halal Tourism Awards 2016.[11]
Facilities and development
Between 2007 and 2009, Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport underwent a significant expansion, which included the construction of a larger passenger terminal along with various supporting infrastructure. The new terminal was designed in a modern Acehnese architectural style, enriched with traditional decorative motifs. Spanning three floors and covering 14,144 square meters, the terminal is capable of accommodating up to 1.75 million passengers annually.[12] It is equipped with two jet bridges, with a third added in 2018 to enhance passenger handling capacity.[13]
The interior of the terminal showcases a harmonious fusion of modern Islamic architecture and aesthetic elements drawn from traditional Acehnese design. Externally, the terminal features three prominent domes that symbolize Aceh’s unique status in Indonesia, representing the pillars of religion, culture, and education.[12]
The development project also involved extending and widening the runway to 3,000 meters to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 747, expanding the aircraft parking apron, and constructing a new air traffic control (ATC) tower. The total investment for the project reached 503 billion rupiah, comprising 125 billion rupiah from Angkasa Pura II’s internal funds and 478 billion rupiah from the Aceh Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR).[12]
The upgraded airport was officially inaugurated by the President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on August 20, 2009, during his visit to Aceh to open the fifth annual Aceh Cultural Week (Pekan Kebudayaan Aceh).[14] On October 9, 2011, the airport successfully accommodated its first Boeing 747-400 landing and departure.[15]
On 4 January 2005, a Boeing 737-200C of Tri-MG Intra Asia Airlines was part of the relief operation to the tsunami stricken area of Banda Aceh. As the aircraft landed in Banda Aceh during the night, it struck a water buffalo that had entered the runway. The main gear on the port side collapsed, causing damage to the gear and port engine. There were no injuries and the aircraft was declared a write off and scrapped several months later.
On 18 April 2006, a PZL M28 Skytruck owned by Kepolisian Republik Indonesia experienced a tire burst on landing at the airport. There were no fatalities in this incident, but several flights at the airport were delayed up to three hours.
On 7 September 2012, a Boeing 737-900ER owned by Lion Air flight number JT 305 Banda Aceh-Medan route failed to take off twice due to irregularities with the security system. However, at 18:00 pm the plane finally took off and flew to Medan, North Sumatra. The number of passengers on board was originally 210 passengers including the former governor of Aceh, Irwandi Yusuf but 39 of them cancel flights.
Names in bold are international airports; names of international airports marked with ‡ have Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility Names of airports marked with ⬠ are exclusively or also served as military airbases
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