Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), is pushing for the development of West Java International Airport (BIJB) Kertajati, into an aerospace industrial area (Aerospace Park) aimed at strengthening new economic growth in the Majalengka area, West Java.

"Among the large, magnificent infrastructure developments that are worthy of being new growth engines in the Rebana area, especially in Majalengka, is Kertajati Airport," said AHY, on Monday, April 21, 2025.

Rebana area in West Java is a metropolitan area encompassing seven regencies/cities, namely Cirebon City, Cirebon Regency, Kuningan Regency, Indramayu Regency, Majalengka Regency, Subang Regency, and Sumedang Regency. It's recognized as an industrial area.

AHY said that Kertajati Airport could become a center for the development of an integrated national aerospace industry, not only as an international airport, but also an industrial area that supports the aviation ecosystem as a whole.

According to him, the initial development of this area began through cooperation between the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas), PT BIJB (Perseroda) and PT Garuda Maintenance Facility Aero Asia (GMF) to establish aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities.

He cited that the MRO facility that will be built by GMF at the Kertajati Airport is expected to answer the needs of routine maintenance and aircraft repairs as a whole. He also emphasized that routine maintenance and aircraft repairs must be carried out periodically so that flight safety is guaranteed.

"We start with cooperation between BIJB and GMF for the establishment of MRO facilities, where we know that one of the important elements of aviation is ensuring that every airline aircraft is in a fit condition and must continue to be maintained," he said.

The construction of the Aerospace Park will be carried out in stages and is targeted to start construction in late 2025 and start operating in early 2026, in line with the five-year development plan of Bappenas.

"In the future, we hope that it will be in accordance with what is planned by Bappenas in the next five years. We hope that Kertajati Airport can be increasingly optimal and will create a new economy," AHY said.

In addition to MRO, the area will also be prepared to attract the manufacturing industry and aircraft components so that they can operate in an integrated ecosystem at Kertajati Airport.

Policy improvement

AHY said that regional development needs to be accompanied by improvements to aviation policies, including providing incentives for airlines and opening new routes, especially for Haj and Umrah pilgrimages. This policy must be aligned with the increasing interest of passengers in direct flight services from the West Java region.

"We need to make sure once again about the flight routes, incentives for airlines to be able to land in Kertajati, including flying from here, must also be ensured first," he said.

Meanwhile, the readiness of logistics infrastructure and intercity connectivity is very important so that the development of the Kertajati Airport area runs optimally and is integrated. For this reason, the local government is currently designing a fast and efficient transportation scheme to connect Kertajati Airport with the main cities around it.

"Logistics are also important to be prepared well here. Once we have the intention, all of it must be well integrated, we cannot build separately. Later, it will be one, the connectivity will not be connected, and vice versa. This must also be considered," AHY said.