Momentum is building on the North Bali International Airport project. The development has been in the pipeline for nearly a decade, and leaders across the province are keen to ensure that this is the time that the idea for a new transportation hub finally comes to fruition.
Over the weekend, Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport experienced a major power outage that affected more than 40 international flights. The travel disruption is one of a series of major incidents that have affected air travel in Bali in recent months.
In May, Bali experienced a province-wide blackout that affected several domestic and international flights. More importantly, it disrupted many tourists’ ability to coordinate travel to the airport, as they were left without WiFi and unable to charge their devices.
Though Bali Airport remained open during the devastating floods that affected many parts of Bali in September, many access roads to the terminals were impassable due to rising flood waters for many hours.
Both of these incidents, combined with the ever-present risk of earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions in Bali, have triggered leaders to call for efforts to build North Bali International Airport to be sped up.
Bali Senator Gde Sumarjaya Linggih told reporters that the development of a second international airport in Bali is essential to help ensure that the island is better prepared for disaster and has a stronger network of connectivity.
Bali Airport’s power was out for one hour, but shockingly, backup systems that operate independently of the grid did not work. Senator Linggih told reporters, “According to standard operating procedures (SOP), a blackout should not last more than a second, just a ‘tek’. So this is a lesson learned to strengthen security systems and power backups.”
He wants to ensure that a second international airport is built as soon as possible so as to ensure that options are available in the event of a force majeure event that would make Ngurah Rai International Airport inoperable for any length of time.
Senator Linggih shared, “We know that Ngurah Rai has experienced several disruptions, and its capacity is approaching its maximum threshold. Therefore, the government needs to immediately determine the location for the construction of a new airport.”
The Senator was clear that, in his view, a second international airport in Bali is necessary, not only to help spread resources and development solutions around the province more widely, but also since expansion at Ngurah Rai International Airport is not deemed to be a viable option due to land availability and high costs.
He told reporters that a new North Bali Airport could bring a multitude of benefits to the province, sharing, “Growth without equity is not quality growth. If development is concentrated in one region, the gap will widen.”
Officials from Bali International Airport issued a formal apology for the weekend’s blackout. The General Manager, Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, shared, “We apologize for the incident.” Adding “During the power outage, we implemented manual handling so that all processes, such as check-in and passenger service, could continue smoothly.”
He concluded, “We are currently investigating and continuing to check all equipment. Going forward, we will conduct an evaluation to improve the quality of the electrical system to prevent a similar incident from happening again.”
Plans to build North Bali Airport are moving faster than ever before. Leaders behind the project have even suggested that elements of the transportation hub could be operational as early as 2028.
Alien Design Consultants, who are the architects behind the project, recently shared their vision for the development that will change the face of the island forever.
The company shared “North Bali International Airport is designed to be a symbol of sustainable development. Integration of public transportation, support for electric vehicles, and green open spaces in and around the terminal are key focuses. The design also reinforces the concept of placemaking: presenting spaces that are not only functional but also reflect Bali’s identity as a cultural gateway.”
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