Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport

Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport
Name	Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport
Nativename	Bandar Udara Internasional Halim Perdanakusuma
Iata	HLP
Icao	WIHH
Type	Civil-military
Owner	Indonesian Ministry of Transportation
Operator	Angkasa Pura I
City-served	Jakarta
Location	East Jakarta, Indonesia
Elevation-f	131
Runway1	07/25
R1-length-m	3660
R1-surface	Asphalt concrete

Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport is a combined civil and military airport in East Jakarta, serving the greater Jakarta metropolitan area and acting as a secondary hub alongside Soekarno–Hatta International Airport. The airport hosts scheduled and charter services, general aviation, government flights and units of the Indonesian Air Force, and is named after aviator Halim Perdanakusuma. It has played roles in regional Southeast Asian air transport, domestic connectivity to Bali, Sumatra, and Kalimantan, and in state protocol for visiting dignitaries from ASEAN and beyond.

History

Originally established during the Dutch East Indies era as a military airfield, the site saw operations by Luchtvaartdienst and later use by Imperial Japanese Army forces during World War II. After Indonesian independence, the field became part of the Indonesian Air Force inventory and was later renamed for Halim Perdanakusuma, an aviator and national figure associated with the Indonesian National Revolution. During the Guided Democracy period under Sukarno and the subsequent New Order administration of Suharto, the airport supported both military logistics and VIP transport for officials of Golkar, Indonesian National Armed Forces, and delegations to events such as Asian Games delegations. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, civil operations expanded with carriers like Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, Batik Air, and Susi Air using the airport for domestic and charter routes, while infrastructural upgrades occurred under administrations of the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation and operators such as Angkasa Pura I.

Facilities and Infrastructure

The airport complex comprises a passenger terminal, cargo apron, and military hangars used by Skadron Udara units of the Indonesian Air Force. Runway 07/25 measures roughly 3,660 metres and supports widebody types including the Boeing 747, Airbus A330, and military transports like the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Ground facilities include control towers coordinated with the Jakarta Flight Information Region and air traffic services overseen by AirNav Indonesia. Passenger amenities are modest compared with Soekarno–Hatta International Airport but include lounges used by delegations from Istana Negara, diplomatic missions such as the Embassy of the United States, Jakarta, and visiting heads of state from Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Japan. Cargo operations handle freight bound for industrial regions including Karawang and the port areas of Tanjung Priok, with handling by logistics firms that serve routes to Surabaya, Medan, and Makassar.

Airlines and Destinations

Scheduled passenger services have varied; carriers that have operated routes include Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, Batavia Air, Citilink, Sriwijaya Air, and Batik Air. Destinations historically served from the airport encompass domestic points such as Denpasar, Yogyakarta, Semarang, Balikpapan, Palembang, and Pontianak, and have included charter links for international business to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The airport also supports general aviation operators, medical evacuation flights coordinated with Kementerian Kesehatan institutions and diplomatic charters for delegations to events at venues like the Jakarta Convention Center.

Military and Government Use

As an active base for the Indonesian Air Force, the airport hosts units including VIP transport squadrons and tactical squadrons operating aircraft such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Fokker F28, and rotary-wing types like the Mil Mi-17 equivalents used by the TNI-AU. The site functions for state transport of presidents and ministers, supporting movements to the Merauke frontier, disaster-response missions coordinated with Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana and military humanitarian deployments to provinces including Aceh and Central Sulawesi. It has also been a staging point for multinational exercises involving partners such as United States Indo-Pacific Command and bilateral cooperation with forces from Australia and Singapore.

Transportation and Access

Situated within East Jakarta, the airport is accessible via the Jakarta Inner Ring Road, arterial roads to Cawang and Kramat Jati, and local shuttle services linking to central hubs like Monas and Bundaran HI. Ground transport options include taxis operated by firms licensed with Dinas Perhubungan DKI Jakarta, private car access with parking facilities, and connections to commuter networks that serve Gambir and Jakarta Kota rail stations. For VIP and diplomatic traffic, secure access routes link directly to Istana Merdeka and presidential convoy routes.

Accidents and Incidents

The airport vicinity has been the site of several notable occurrences, including emergency landings and accidents involving aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and military transports; incidents prompted investigations by the KNKT and led to operational reviews by Angkasa Pura I and the Indonesian Air Force. Events have had repercussions for airline scheduling at hubs like Soekarno–Hatta International Airport and informed safety enhancements aligned with standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization and regional oversight by ASEAN Air Transport Working Group.

Category:Airports in Indonesia Category:Buildings and structures in Jakarta Category:Indonesian Air Force bases