About Us
Connecting North Sumatra to the World
PT Angkasa Pura Aviasi manages Kualanamu International Airport with a commitment to delivering safe, modern, and customer-focused airport services.
History of Kualanamu International Airport
Kualanamu International Airport was developed as part of North Sumatra's air transport infrastructure and continues to grow as a modern international gateway.
Planning for Airport Relocation
The Government initiated plans to relocate Polonia Airport to a new site in response to the rapid growth of air traffic. Having operated for more than 85 years, Polonia Airport was considered limited in both capacity and expansion potential due to its location in the heart of Medan. A new airport was therefore planned to accommodate future aviation demand and support long-term regional development.
Airport Construction Begins
Construction of Kualanamu International Airport officially began on 29 June 2006, initiated as part of a long-planned relocation of Medan's air transport hub from the congested Polonia Airport. Located in Desa Beringin, Kecamatan Beringin, Deli Serdang Regency — approximately 23 kilometres east of downtown Medan — the airport was developed on a land area of approximately 1,365 hectares, formerly occupied by an oil palm plantation of Perkebunan Nusantara II Tanjung Morawa. The project marked a critical step toward building a modern international aviation gateway capable of supporting the long-term air transportation needs of North Sumatra.
Kualanamu International Airport Officially Commences Operations
Kualanamu International Airport officially commenced operations on 25 July 2013, replacing Polonia Airport as the primary gateway to Medan. The first commercial flight was operated by Garuda Indonesia under flight number GA181. Equipped with a 3,750-meter runway, the airport is capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and was designed with an initial annual passenger capacity of approximately 8.1 million, making it one of Indonesia's largest modern airports.
Official Inauguration and Airport Rail Link Operations
Kualanamu International Airport was officially inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on 27 March 2014. In the same year, the Airport Rail Link commenced operations, connecting Kualanamu International Airport with Medan Railway Station in approximately 30 minutes. This milestone made Kualanamu the first airport in Indonesia to be directly integrated with an airport rail service.
Surpassing Phase I Design Capacity
In 2018, Kualanamu International Airport served more than 10.5 million passengers, exceeding its Phase I design capacity of approximately 8.1 million passengers per year. This significant growth in passenger traffic laid the foundation for future expansion plans aimed at increasing terminal capacity and supporting facilities to accommodate the region's growing air transportation demand.
The PT Angkasa Pura Aviasi Era
In 2022, the management of Kualanamu International Airport was transferred to PT Angkasa Pura Aviasi as part of Indonesia's national aviation transformation through the establishment of the State-Owned Aviation Holding. This transition marked a significant milestone in strengthening governance, enhancing service quality, fostering innovation, and accelerating the development of Kualanamu International Airport as the primary aviation gateway and hub for Sumatra.