BADUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation is reviewing options to further increase the capacity of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport as passenger demand in Bali continues to grow, following the airport’s recent expansion to handle up to 32 million passengers annually.
Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa said Ngurah Rai Airport previously had a capacity of 24 million passengers per year, which has now increased to 32 million after revitalization works. Authorities are currently assessing the feasibility of raising capacity further to around 40 million passengers annually.
“Based on our forecasting studies, Bali’s airport demand could reach up to 55 million passengers,” Lukman said during the Celebration of Airport Excellence event in Nusa Dua on Friday evening, January 23, 2026. “That is why we are considering options such as an additional airport or a second runway to support the remaining demand, particularly in South Bali.”
According to Lukman, determining where to locate a new airport or additional runway in South Bali remains a challenge. Traffic congestion in the region is also a major concern, prompting discussions on long-term solutions including mass rapid transit systems and toll roads.
He noted that spatial planning regulations in Bali, including restrictions on building heights exceeding coconut tree levels, add further complexity to infrastructure development.
“Even at 24 million passengers, congestion is already an issue. The southern Bali area was originally designed for that level. Like it or not, within the next three to four years Bali will reach 32 million passengers,” Lukman said.
As passenger volumes increase, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has emphasized the need to maintain and strengthen aviation safety standards at Ngurah Rai Airport. Lukman stressed that even minor aviation incidents attract significant domestic and international attention, making safety a top priority.
“The entire airport ecosystem must always prioritize safety and prevent serious incidents,” he said.
Lukman also provided an update on Indonesia’s aviation sector recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. Domestic passenger numbers have reached about 80 percent of 2019 levels, while international passenger volumes have fully recovered and now exceed pre-pandemic figures.
“International flights have recovered strongly, with passenger numbers reaching 105 percent of 2019 levels, while domestic flights remain at 80 percent, and flight frequency is only at 67 percent,” he explained.
Indonesia’s aviation fleet has yet to fully recover, with only 288 aircraft currently operating out of a pre-pandemic total of 566. The limited number of active aircraft has contributed to higher domestic airfares due to supply and demand imbalances.
The government, Lukman said, supports airlines seeking to add new routes or extra flights outside regular schedules to help stabilize ticket prices.
During the event, Lukman also referenced the use of weather modification operations during the search and evacuation efforts following the ATR 42-500 aircraft accident in the Bulusaraung area, where cloud movement was altered to improve rescue conditions.
“Weather conditions were extremely challenging, so we conducted weather modification operations more than ten times to support evacuation efforts,” he said.
He concluded by urging all aviation stakeholders to remain vigilant, particularly as Indonesia enters the peak of the rainy season. “Weather and safety must continue to be closely monitored,” Lukman said.