New North Bali International Airport Runway Could Be Operational As Early As 2028  

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The Indonesian Government is under pressure from some communities in North Bali who want to see progress on election campaign promises to build a new international airport in the region.

The North Bali International Airport project has been on and off the cards for nearly a decade. 

In light of recent floods in Bali, which have affected tens of thousands of people across the island and killed at least 18, residents are calling for government election promises to be fulfilled at the regency, provincial, and central government levels.

During his election campaign, now-President Prabowo Subianto visited communities in North Bali, as promised, to be the leader who could finally bring the multi-billion-dollar project to fruition. Speaking to communities in Denpasar City during his first visit as leader in November 2024, President Subianto said, “North Bali Airport, as I have conveyed, I am committed, I want to build North Bali International Airport.”

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He even stated, “We will make Bali make the new Singapore, the new Hong Kong, where we will be the center of this region.” Many communities were rallied by his vision and plans for the province, as he shared, “Indonesia must be prosperous, and Indonesia must be prosperous and fair; all Indonesians must enjoy prosperity, not just a few people, agree?”

Although just under a year on, with the island being hit with the worst rains in more than 70 years, and major political unrest in late August, President Subianto is being called to account by communities in North Bali, and across the country. 

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The Puri Sejebag of Bali, who represent the royal families and noble households of the island, have met to discuss making progress on the North Bali International Airport.

The Chairman of the Puri Sejebag Bali Daily, Cokorda Gde Putra Nindia, told reporters, “We thank President Prabowo, who has expressed his commitment to build North Bali International Airport through Presidential Decree No. 12/2025 About the National Medium Term Development Plan 2025-2029, which was signed by the president on February 10, 2025.” 

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Adding “The laying of this first stone is very important, so that all levels of society are not constantly asked, whether this project is really a road or just a political promise.”

Nindia confirmed that the Puri Sejebag gives its backing to the proposed location of the airport on the coast of Kubutambahan. T

They are content that the spatial planning is in line with regulations, including the Regulation of the Minister of Transportation No. 20/2014 and the Regulation of the Minister of Transportation No. 64/2018 concerning Procedures for Determining the Location of the Airport.

The Penglinsir of Puri Agung Singaraja, AA Ngurah Ugrasena, spoke to reporters about what he wants to see happen for the betterment of Bali moving forward. A Penglinsir in Bali is a respected religious elder. Ugrasena told reporters, “This is a real alarm that we cannot continue to allow development inequality. If the only international entrance is in the south, then all environmental, economic, and social burdens are piling up there.”

Ugrasena told reporters that the plans for North Bali International Airport have been stated in Presidential Decree No.12/2025, and he wished to see this honoured. He cited concerns that Bali Governor Wayan Koster has spoken of transforming the site currently used as Lt Cl Wisnu Airport in North Bali into the project site, rather than proceeding with current plans to develop a new site, including some ocean reclamation land off the coast of Buleleng Regency. 

He shared, “This is a real alarm that we cannot continue to allow development inequality. If the only international entrance is in the south, then all environmental, economic, and social burdens are piling up there.” 

Ugrasena conceded, “We believe President Prabowo will fulfill his promise. North Bali is ready to become a new growth epicenter, for the sake of the balance of the island and the progress of the nation.”

Speaking separately, the CEO of PT BIBU Panji Sakti, Erwanto Sad Adiatmoko, told reporters that plans are still full steam ahead.

He shared, “Investors are ready. We have signed an MoU with investors. We have proposed the Location Determination. We are targeting the first runway, from the two runways that we planned, to operate in 2028.”