According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation under the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, the plan will increase the country's airport network to 296 airports, up from the current 257 operational airports.

Speaking at the 2026 National Conference of the Indonesian Airport Experts Association (IABI) in Jakarta, Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman said the expansion reflects the government's commitment to improving transport links to frontier, remote and underdeveloped areas.

As the world's largest archipelagic nation, Indonesia faces significant geographical challenges in developing airport infrastructure. New airports must be built across swamps, peatlands, mountainous terrain and small isolated islands.

Lukman said future airport projects will place greater emphasis on safety, sustainability, the application of advanced technologies and resilience to climate change, ensuring that aviation infrastructure can support the country's long-term development.

To support the expansion programme, the Ministry of Transportation is encouraging professional organizations to strengthen the capacity of aviation personnel, particularly by enhancing their ability to adopt emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). It also aims to help Indonesian aviation experts obtain internationally recognized professional certifications to improve their competitiveness in global infrastructure projects.

Alvin Lie, Chairman of the Indonesian Aviation Service Users Association (APJAPI), stressed the importance of closer cooperation among government agencies, industry experts and other stakeholders to address the increasingly complex challenges facing Indonesia's aviation sector.