Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport

Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport (IATA: HLP, ICAO: WIHH) is an international airport in Jakarta, Indonesia. Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport serves as Jakarta’s secondary airport, complementing the larger Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang. Although designated as an international airport, it primarily handles domestic flights. Located in East Jakarta near the border with Bekasi, West Java, the airport lies approximately 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from Jakarta’s city center. It is named after Halim Perdanakusuma, an Indonesian Air Force officer and national hero of Indonesia. The airport currently functions as a secondary hub for Batik Air and Citilink, and also handles other charter, VIP and other non-commercial flights.

Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport Bandar Udara Internasional Halim Perdanakusuma
IATA: HLP ICAO: WIHH
Summary
Airport type	Public / Military
Owner	Indonesian Air Force
Operator	InJourney Airports
Serves	Jakarta metropolitan area
Location	East Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia
Hub for	Batik Air Citilink Garuda Indonesia
Focus city for	Susi Air
Time zone	WIB (UTC+07:00)
Elevation AMSL	82 ft / 25 m
Coordinates	06°15′59″S 106°53′28″E
Website	halimperdanakusuma-airport.co.id
Map
HLP/WIHH Location within Jakarta, Indonesia Show map of Jakarta HLP/WIHH HLP/WIHH (Java) Show map of Java HLP/WIHH HLP/WIHH (Indonesia) Show map of Indonesia HLP/WIHH HLP/WIHH (Southeast Asia) Show map of Southeast Asia
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 06/24 3,000 9,843 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Passengers 3,791,108 ( 278.2%) Cargo (tonnes) 47,206 ( 114.7%) Aircraft movements 44,327 ( 173.4%)
Source: DGCA[1][2]

In addition to handling commercial flights, the airport shares its airfield with Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, a key Type A facility of the Indonesian Air Force. Operating under the 1st Air Force Operations Command (Komando Operasi Angkatan Udara I), the base plays a critical role in overseeing the western sector of Indonesia’s airspace. Home to five active Indonesian Air Force squadrons, it also serves as the headquarters for the National Air Operations Command and the 1st Air Force Operations Command.

Beyond its role in military operations, the base houses over twenty other essential Air Force units, including the Air Force Education Command Headquarters (Makodikau), the National Air Defense Command Headquarters (Makohanudnas), and the Headquarters of National Air Defense Command Sector I (Makosekhanudnas I). It also hosts specialized services such as the Air Survey and Photography Service (Dissurpotrudau), the Air Force Psychological Service (Dispsiau), and the Dr. Esnawan Antariksa Air Force Hospital (RSAU dr. Esnawan Antariksa), making it a hub for both defense and support operations.

History

Halim Perdanakusuma Airport is the first airfield in the city of Jakarta, which was formerly known as Batavia. It was built around 1924 and was originally named Tjililitan Air Base (Dutch: Vliegveld Tjililitan), after its borough.^[3] On November 1, 1928, Tjililitan Air Base began operations under a Dutch airline in the Dutch East Indies, the Koninklijke Nederlandsch-Indische Luchtvaart Maatschappij (KNILM), which served routes from Batavia to Bandung, as well as from Batavia to Semarang and Surabaya. A year later, the name Tjililitan Air Base gained international recognition after the Dutch airline KLM set a record for intercontinental flight using a Fokker F.VII aircraft. The flight covered a distance of 14,500 km from the Netherlands to Batavia in 10 days, carrying only four passengers.^[3]

On June 20, 1950, the Netherlands officially handed over the air base to the Indonesian government. It was subsequently taken over by the Indonesian Air Force (AURI) and designated as a military air base under the 1st Air Force Operations Command.^[3] Several facilities were transferred to the Air Force Chief of Staff at the time, Soerjadi Soerjadarma, including buildings, hangars, offices, warehouses, housing, and a hospital, along with two air squadrons—20th Squadron and 18th Bomber Squadron. Three former Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force (Militaire Luchtvaart) hangars were repurposed to house 17th Air Squadron, 31st Air Squadron, and 21st Technical Squadron.^[3] On August 17, 1952, Tjililitan Air Base was officially renamed Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in honor of Abdul Halim Perdanakusuma, an Indonesian Air Force officer and airman who died in the line of duty during the Indonesian National Revolution and was later recognized as a national hero of Indonesia.

During the 30 September Incident of 1965, Halim Air Base served as the central base for the coup plotters of the 30 September Movement. Members of the Tjakrabirawa Regiment assembled there prior to launching the coup, reportedly with the support of the Indonesian Air Force.^[4] The bodies of seven Indonesian Army officers were discarded by the plotters in Lubang Buaya, situated just south of the airbase. After the failed coup attempt, President Sukarno sought refuge at Halim Air Base before fleeing to Bogor for safety. In the early hours of 2 October 1965, Indonesian Army forces, including units from Kostrad and RPKAD, launched an assault on the airbase.^[5] After a brief skirmish with rebel troops, the Army successfully secured the airbase. Subsequently, the Army blockaded the runway, preventing Indonesian Air Force aircraft from landing. As a result, many of these aircraft were diverted to Atang Senjaya Air Base in Bogor.^[6]

In addition to serving as a military airbase, the airport began handling international flights in 1974, easing the burden on the busy Kemayoran Airport.^[7] At that time, all international flights were relocated to Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, while Kemayoran continued to serve only domestic flights.^[8] Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport remained a vital gateway for international travel to Jakarta until the opening of Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Tangerang in 1985. Following the closure of Kemayoran in 1985, Halim Perdanakusuma became Jakarta's secondary airport, primarily accommodating charter flights, general aviation, and serving as a base for flying schools for the next 29 years. In the 1990s, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation designated Halim as a hub for non-scheduled flights and scheduled services using aircraft with a capacity of fewer than 100 passengers.

In 2013, to ease congestion at Soekarno–Hatta Airport, the Halim airport authority announced that it would give 60 flight slots per hour for scheduled flights and, for the first time, the 2013 Haj pilgrims used this airport.^[9] Batik Air initially was the largest user, taking 32 slots from 74 slots available for all airlines a day.^[10] Since 2014, the airport has served domestic scheduled flights with a capacity up to 2.2 million passengers per year from about 200,000 passengers in 2013.^[11]

In early November 2021, Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation announced they would close the airport temporarily for public use for the next nine months for renovation. Domestic flights would be moved to Soekarno–Hatta International Airport or Pondok Cabe Airport. This decision was made based on the evaluation of Halim's aging infrastructure, like the runways and terminals, and the impact to the airport's quality of services.^[12] The airport was closed from March to September 2022 to allow for renovation works.^[13]

Facilities and development

A major redevelopment of the airport was carried out between March and September 2022, involving extensive upgrades to both the airside and landside facilities. During the renovation period, the airport was temporarily closed to all flights.^[13] The total cost of the upgrade amounted to approximately 500 billion rupiah.^[14]

On the airside, works included the rehabilitation of the runway, taxiways, and aircraft apron. On the landside, the project focused on revitalizing the drainage system, the Naratetama VVIP Terminal, the Naratama VIP Terminal, the passenger terminal, and various supporting infrastructure.^[15]

The apron was expanded to accommodate up to 16 narrow-body aircraft—such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320—or six wide-body aircraft. The arrival terminal was also enlarged by 30 percent, increasing from 819.32 to 1,194.24 square meters. Additionally, the number of baggage conveyor belts was increased from two to three units to improve handling capacity.^[15] Following the renovation, the passenger terminal's capacity increased to accommodate 7-8 million passengers annually, up from its original capacity of only 2 million passengers.^[16]

One of the most notable transformations took place at the Naratetama VVIP Terminal. Previously in a state of disrepair, the terminal now resembles a five-star hotel, shedding its former worn-out appearance. Located at the front section of the airport in East Jakarta, it now features dedicated rooms for the president, vice president, and visiting state guests. The presidential meeting room has also been expanded and fitted with higher ceilings, offering a more spacious and distinguished atmosphere.^[15]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Airlines	Destinations
Batik Air	Denpasar, Malang, Medan, Padang,[17] Palembang, Pekanbaru, Semarang, Solo, Surabaya, Yogyakarta–International
Citilink	Denpasar, Malang, Medan, Palembang, Siborong-Borong, Surabaya, Way Kanan,[18] Yogyakarta–Adisucipto, Yogyakarta–International
Garuda Indonesia	Medan, Padang, Surabaya[19][20]
Pelita Air	Charter: Matak[21]
Susi Air	Bandung–Sastranegara,[22] Pangandaran[a]

Notes:

1. Pangandaran is continuation of Bandung–Sastranegara flight as the same flight number

Cargo

Airlines	Destinations
Asia Cargo Airlines	Balikpapan, Singapore
Cardig Air	Balikpapan, Singapore

Traffic and statistics

Apron view of Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport

Indonesian Air Force aircraft lining up at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base

Traffic

Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics

Year	Passengers handled	Passenger % change	Cargo (tonnes)	Cargo % change	Aircraft movements	Aircraft % change
2009	190,183		1,332		17,449
2010	216,210	13.7	243	81.8	19,888	14.0
2011	75,026	65.3	208	14.4	23,250	16.9
2012	168,190	124.2	289	138.9	26,417	13.6
2013	210,815	25.3	1,129	1290.7	28,432	7.6
2014	1,646,862	681.2	12,793	11033.1	29,108	2.4
2015	3,059,153	85.8	8,435	34.1	30,235	3.9
2016	5,613,039	83.5	13,608	161.3	55,739	84.4
2017	6,912,445	23.1	25,395	186.6	67,390	20.9
2018	7,446,483	7.7	34,381	135.4	66,798	0.9
2019	6,209,195	16.6	31,902	7.2	62,047	7.1
2020	2,014,089	67.6	46,746	46.5	35,252	43.2
2021	1,432,366	28.9	80,149	171.5	34,648	1.7
2022	1,002,500	30.0	21,986	72.6	16,211	53.2
2023	3,791,108	278.2	47,206	114.7	44,327	173.4
Source: DGCA, BPS[2][23]

Statistics

Busiest flights out of Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport by frequency (2025)^[1]

Rank	Destinations	Frequency (weekly)	Airline(s)
1	Surabaya, East Java	88	Batik Air, Citilink, Garuda Indonesia
2	Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta (all airports)	51	Batik Air, Citilink
3	Palembang, South Sumatra	30	Batik Air, Citilink
4	Medan, North Sumatra	21	Batik Air, Citilink, Garuda Indonesia
5	Malang, East Java	20	Batik Air, Citilink
6	Padang, West Sumatra	14	Batik Air, Garuda Indonesia
7	Pekanbaru, Riau	14	Batik Air
8	Denpasar, Bali	13	Batik Air, Citilink
9	Semarang, Central Java	10	Batik Air
10	Siborong-Borong, North Sumatra	7	Citilink
11	Surakarta, Central Java	4	Batik Air
12	Way Kanan, Lampung	2	Citilink
13	Bandung, West Java	2	Susi Air

Ground transportation

Bus

DAMRI buses operate from the airport, providing connections to nearby cities such as Bogor and Bekasi.^[24] For travel within Jakarta, the airport is accessible via the Gereja Oikumene stop on the JakLingko JAK20 corridor , located just a three-minute walk from the airport terminal.^[24]

Taxis

Within the airport terminal, only official taxis authorized by the Indonesian Air Force authority in Halim Perdanakusuma Airport are permitted to operate. This policy has sparked some controversy, as these taxis are often considered overpriced by passengers.^[25] However, outside the terminal, travelers can easily find alternative options such as Bluebird taxis and app-based ride-hailing services like Gojek, Grab, and Maxim.^[24]

Rail

The airport is located near the Halim railway station complex, which includes stations for both the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed railway operated by Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) and the Jabodebek LRT Bekasi Line. An airport shuttle bus is available to provide convenient transportation between the airport and the station complex.^[26]

An express train service is now under planning stage to connect Soekarno–Hatta International Airport with Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. Completion of this line is originally expected to be completed at the very earliest in 2019.^[27] At first this project was solely planned to be built as an 33-kilometer (21 mi) express line between Manggarai Station at South Jakarta and Soekarno–Hatta International Airport via Angke and Pluit, which would be a public–private partnership project.^[28][29] Later the route was extended from Manggarai to Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, which is in East Jakarta. The 33 kilometer project, proposed as Halim-Cawang-Manggarai-Tanah Abang-Sudirman-Pluit Terminal 2 and 3 SHIA stretch route, has been proposed to include a combination of surface-underground-elevated tracks. The express train is projected to take 30 minutes to connect the two main airports that serve the Greater Jakarta area.^[30][31]

Gallery

• 
  First aircraft to land at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, still known as Tjililitan Field, in November 1924
• 
  The arrival hall of the old Tjililitan airfield in 1915–1925
• 
  The old Tjililitan airfield in 1925–1935
• 
  A Fokker F.VII plane at Tjililitan in 1929
• 
  The transferred of Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase from the Netherlands Air Force to Indonesian Air Force, 20 June 1950
• 
  Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport in 1975
• 
  Indonesian Navy DeHavilland Canada DHC-5D Buffalo at Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase
• 
  Indonesian Air Force Boeing 737-400 at Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase
• 
  U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, greeted by Indonesian military members upon arriving at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport on 22 July 2010
• 
  Indonesian Air Force KAI T-50i Golden Eagle at display during an airshow at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base
• 
  Citilink Airbus A320-200 taxiing at Halim

Accidents and incidents

• 24 June 1982: British Airways Flight 9, a Boeing 747-200 (registered G-BDXH) flew through a cloud of volcanic ash thrown up by the eruption of Mount Galunggung, causing the failure of all four engines. The crew diverted the aircraft to Jakarta and it landed safely.
• 9 May 2012: a Sukhoi Superjet 100 crashed into Mount Salak on a test flight, killing all 45 people on board. The investigation found that pilot error was to blame.
• 21 June 2012: An Indonesian Air Force Fokker F-27 crashed on landing and hit a housing complex near Halim airport.^[32]
• 4 April 2016: Batik Air Flight 7703, a Boeing 737-800 (registered PK-LBS) collided with a TransNusa ATR 42 while taxiing. The Boeing 737 wingtip sliced the tail of the ATR. The wingtip of the Boeing 737 burst into flames but was quickly extinguished. No one on board was killed.^[33]
• 20 March 2021: A Trigana Air Boeing 737-400 (registered PK-YSF) returned after it had problems with its landing gear. When the plane landed, the landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to skid off the runway. No injuries were reported.