Indonesia promotes six hub airports to boost ASEAN-China connectivity
Indonesia's state-owned airport operator, PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (operating under the InJourney Airports brand), is promoting six regional airports to enhance air connectivity between Indonesia, ASEAN, and China. During the 17th ASEAN-China Working Group on Regional Air Services Arrangements (ACWG-RASA) in Yogyakarta, the company discussed expanding international flight collaborations. The event brought together 61 delegates from ASEAN and China, along with representatives from airlines, airport operators, and aviation organizations. InJourney Airports highlighted growing demand for flights between China and Indonesia, noting that 40.9 million international passengers arrived in Indonesia by December 2025—surpassing pre-pandemic levels. China accounts for 67% of this traffic, with demand now spread beyond Jakarta and Bali to other regions like Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, and Sumatra. The six airports being promoted include Yogyakarta, Lombok, Padang, Palembang, Makassar, and Manado, which are connected to smaller regional airports.
Indonesia has announced plans to promote six regional airports as key hubs to enhance air connectivity between the country, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and China. The initiative emerged during the 17th ASEAN-China Working Group on Regional Air Services Arrangements (ACWG-RASA), hosted in Yogyakarta by Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation. The meeting brought together 61 delegates from ASEAN member states and China, alongside 127 representatives from airlines, airport operators, aircraft manufacturers, and aviation associations from both regions. At the forum, PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia, the state-owned airport operator managing InJourney Airports, highlighted efforts to expand international flight collaborations. The company is promoting six regional airports, Yogyakarta International Airport, Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport in Lombok, Minangkabau International Airport in Padang, Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport in Palembang, Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, and Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado, to improve direct connections between Indonesia and China. These airports are strategically positioned to serve as gateways to different parts of the archipelago, integrating with local airport networks such as Kendari, Palu, Gorontalo, Ternate, Ambon, Sorong, Timika, Jayapura, Kupang, and Labuan Bajo. In a press statement, Mohammad R. Pahlevi, president director of InJourney Airports, emphasized that the forum provided an opportunity to showcase the competitive advantages of these airports in supporting ASEAN-China air connectivity. He noted that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to optimize InJourney Airports' assets. Commercial Director Veri Y. Setiady added that enhancing ASEAN-China connectivity is a top priority, driven by the growing demand for flights between China and various regions in Indonesia. According to Setiady, by December 2025, 40.9 million international passengers from multiple countries had arrived in Indonesia, representing a 110 percent recovery compared to pre-pandemic levels. The Asian market accounted for 67 percent of this total, with China being a major driver of growth. Flight demand from China to Indonesia is no longer concentrated solely in Jakarta and Bali. Data from 2025 shows that Java recorded around 992,000 passengers, followed by Bali and Nusa Tenggara with approximately 525,000 passengers, and Sumatra with 169,000 passengers. Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua saw smaller but steady increases in demand. This trend supports the push for stronger direct ASEAN-China connectivity beyond traditional hubs. The six regional airports being promoted are designed to connect with local networks, enabling a more extensive reach across Indonesia. Setiady expressed gratitude for the positive feedback from forum participants and mentioned that follow-up discussions would occur in future meetings. As the world’s fifth-largest airport operator, InJourney Airports serves 162 million passengers annually across 37 airports. The company continues to focus on optimizing its infrastructure to strengthen Indonesia-China connectivity, contributing to the national economy and the tourism sector. The initiative reflects Indonesia’s commitment to expanding its role in regional aviation and fostering closer ties with China.
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Antara NewsState / PublicCenterFactual 80Objective 8514 days ago
Indonesia's state-owned airport operator, PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (operating under the InJourney Airports brand), is promoting six regional airports to enhance air connectivity between Indonesia, ASEAN, and China. During the 17th ASEAN-China Working Group on Regional Air Services Arrangements (ACWG-RASA) in Yogyakarta, the company discussed expanding international flight collaborations. The event brought together 61 delegates from ASEAN and China, along with representatives from airlines, airport operators, and aviation organizations. InJourney Airports highlighted growing demand for flights between China and Indonesia, noting that 40.9 million international passengers arrived in Indonesia by December 2025—surpassing pre-pandemic levels. China accounts for 67% of this traffic, with demand now spread beyond Jakarta and Bali to other regions like Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, and Sumatra. The six airports being promoted include Yogyakarta, Lombok, Padang, Palembang, Makassar, and Manado, which are connected to smaller regional airports.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about Indonesia's efforts to improve regional air connectivity with ASEAN and China. It includes quotes from officials and provides statistical data on passenger numbers and trends. There is no evident ideological framing, loaded language, or one-sided focus.
Why factuality (80): The article provides clear details about the promotion of six regional airports by InJourney Airports to enhance ASEAN-China connectivity. It cites a specific forum, mentions attendees, and includes quotes from company executives. These details align with the cross-source consensus and present a coh
Why objectivity (85): The article maintains a neutral and informative tone, focusing on the business objectives and strategic goals of the company. There is no evident bias or emotional language, making it highly objective.
Tempo (English)IndependentCenterFactual 70Objective 8013 days ago
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Why objectivity (80): The tone remains neutral, presenting the initiative as a strategic business goal without overtly promoting or criticizing the approach.
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