Jakarta. The Transportation Ministry has yet to finalize a site for the planned North Bali International Airport, despite longstanding proposals from the provincial government, an official said on Saturday.

Endah Purnama Sari, spokesperson for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation at the Transportation Ministry, said in a written statement that the Bali provincial government has submitted a proposal to designate a location for the airport, but the ministry has not yet issued an official determination.

“Until now, the proposed North Bali International Airport has no confirmed site, although the Bali provincial government has submitted a request as the initiator of the location determination,” Endah said.

The proposed North Bali International Airport is projected to require an investment of around Rp 50 trillion (approximately USD 3 billion), with a planned land area of 500 hectares. 

One of the main reasons behind the project is the need to reduce congestion at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, which is nearing its maximum capacity. The proposed North Bali Airport is expected to help ease the heavy passenger traffic currently concentrated in South Bali, where Ngurah Rai Airport serves as the island’s main international gateway.

Under Indonesian law, the authority to determine airport locations rests with the Transportation Minister, as stipulated in Law No. 1/2009. The requirements for site determination are regulated under Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. PM 55/2023, which outlines the procedures for determining the location of airports and helicopter takeoff areas.

According to the regulation, any application for airport site determination must include several supporting documents, such as a feasibility study of the proposed location, an airport master plan review, and administrative requirements including letters of recommendation from the provincial governor and local regents or mayors confirming the alignment of the proposed site with regional spatial plans.

Additional requirements include a declaration from local governments to secure and control land use around the proposed airport in line with safety and operational zones, as well as a statement of commitment from the proponent to provide the necessary land.

“In conclusion, the site determination for the North Bali Airport has not yet been carried out. Whoever will eventually build the airport must follow the regulatory procedures in place,” Endah said.

Community leaders and local residents in Buleleng, North Bali, have repeatedly sought clarity on the airport project, which has long been proposed by PT BIBU as the developer.

Putu Rumawan Salain, a spatial planning and urban development expert at Udayana University, emphasized the importance of presenting an integrated and connected development plan that aligns the North Bali project with the infrastructure and economic ecosystem of South Bali to ensure the project’s sustainability.

“Everything must be measurable, with a clear feasibility study, not something rushed or careless. Building an airport requires integrated planning,” Putu said.