Bandung domestic jet flights being moved from BDO to Kertajati (KJT) on July 1, 2019

[Jaime C]

We have a flight from Bandung to Bali next month. One thing I’ve liked about flying out of Bandung is that it’s fairly close and easy to get to.

My wife has just told me that all domestic jet flights have been moved to the Kertajati airport (KJT), which is quite some distance away. Obviously I hope that flights won’t be moved there yet, as I’m not looking forward to the long slog.

International and domestic prop flights will still fly into the city airport. (BDO)

 

[jstar]

Yeah it was only a matter of time...

Aviation info.

I used to spend all day wandering around the aircraft, it’s surprising what you find, a 737/200 I had a stroll round, I asked the mechanic if he was happy, he said, Yes, I suggested he do another walk round, this he did and still happy, so I pointed out to him that the missing outer pane on the...

www.expatindo.org

 

[Jaime C]

It took us 2 hours and 40 minutes to get there, leaving at 4:30 AM from Bandung.

The airport itself is nice enough. Getting there from the freeway is very convoluted, winding through the local town with horrid roads, going from a single lane to double lan, with no warning. And a super long entrance road, with little to no signage.

Shockingly, the plane was 80% full to Bali. I thought with the move, it would be almost empty. I guess everyone wants to go to Bali.

 

[dafluff]

This is such a waste of money for Indonesia. Who in their right mind builds an airport 2.5 hours away from the city it is supposed to serve? Nevermind such a huge one.

Airlines were forced to move domestic flights there, and now they are cancelling routes because lack of passengers...

Kertajati struggles as Citilink closes routes because of low use - Business - The Jakarta Post

The small number of passengers at the airport has forced Garuda Indonesia’s subsidiary, the low-cost carrier Citilink Indonesia, to close three routes less than a month after opening them.

www.thejakartapost.com

 

[waarmstrong]

Maybe they want to give Kereta Api a boost.

 

[jstar]

It is normally not an issue to build an airport 100 km or so from a major hub. But at least THINK ? ? then and make sure the infrastructure around and fast connections are in place.

But if you look at the airports used by low cost carriers in Europe for instance (e.g. Ryan Air - Stockholm or Milano) you see that more make that same mistake.

 

[IndoTom]

It is normally not an issue to build an airport 100 km or so from a major hub. But at least THINK ?? then and make sure the infrastructure around and fast connections are in place.

The Kertajati airport is half the distance to Jakarta. Are the international flight going to be move there also in the future?

Here is a Link to an old news article about the construction of the Kertajati Airport.

 

[jstar]

Well, if the high speed train (à la TGV between Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, or Beijing and Shanghai) would be in place the situation would be very different of course. I understand you can’t build Rome in one day but still....

 

[dafluff]

The Kertajati airport is half the distance to Jakarta. Are the international flight going to be move there also in the future?

Here is a Link to an old news article about the construction of the Kertajati Airport.

For giggles, I looked up the driving times on Google: Bandung to Kertajati about 2:30, Bandung to Soekarno-Hatta: 3:00 (!!!).

 

[Helpful Herbert]

It's basically Cirebon airport. You can get there from Cirebon in an hour.

 

[jstar]

Well, if you focus only on the east of West Java and west of Central Java, you already easily get a population of over 30 million with many potential travelers. Even more if you extend a bit.

 

[Jaime C]

The Kertajati airport is half the distance to Jakarta. Are the international flight going to be move there also in the future?

Here is a Link to an old news article about the construction of the Kertajati Airport.

Actually, I think it’s the same distance as Bekasi, or even a bit further. I always figure the transition from the freeway from Bandung to the freeway going to Jakarta (at about KM 66 marker) is halfway. Going to KJT is quite a bit further.

At this point, I’d rather just go to Jakarta.

 

[Bad_azz]

For giggles, I looked up the driving times on Google: Bandung to Kertajati about 2:30, Bandung to Soekarno-Hatta: 3:00 (!!!).

This made me giggle.
It is highly unlikely for anyone to get from Bandung to CGK in 3 hours - Google maps/Waze lie lol, it always says about 2 hours less than the actual time when setting out, it then adds the odd 30 minutes here & there along the route.

It may be doable at the absolute quietest times - however there really isn't a macet free time along that toll road & probably won't be until the rail construction is finished

 

[Jaime C]

We made it from Pasteur to Plaza Indonesia, early Christmas morning on a Xtrans shuttle in about 90 minutes once. Absolutely no traffic, and the driver was going like a bat out of hell. And this was way before all the current construction.

 

[Jaime C]

I was looking at some flights BDO-DPS for next month in case we are here longer than expected while my Kitap is being renewed.

It looks like Citilink, Lion and others again have non-stop jet service between the cities. I’m not sure what Covid-19 testing, masks or other measures are necessary to fly.

 

[Wisnu]

I hope they have and strictly implement the protocol.
I decide to return my traveling activities. Since we are not young anymore, I will carefully check the transportation and accomodation Covid 19 protocol. In addition, we always use N95 mask in confined space and medical mask in outdoor where using mask is required.
We joined Red sea liveaboard trip in August and now we are in Turkey to climb mt. Ararat.
So far I'm comfortable.