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Raja Sisingamangaraja XII Airport

Bandar Udara Raja Sisingamangaraja XII
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Indonesia
OperatorInJourney Airports
ServesSiborong-Borong
LocationSiborong-Borong, North Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Time zoneWIB (UTC+07:00)
Elevation AMSL4,660 ft / 1,420 m
Coordinates02°15′35″N 098°59′43″E / 2.25972°N 98.99528°E / 2.25972; 98.99528
Websitewww.silangit-airport.co.id
Maps
Sumatra region in Indonesia
Sumatra region in Indonesia
DTB is located in Sumatra
DTB
DTB
Location in Sumatra
DTB is located in Indonesia
DTB
DTB
DTB (Indonesia)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
09/27 2,650 8,694 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Passengers448,157 (Increase 49.1%)
Cargo (tonnes)3,522 (Increase 19.3%)
Aircraft movements3,310 (Increase 39.0%)
Source: DGCA[1][2]

Raja Sisingamangaraja XII Airport (IATA: DTB, ICAO: WIMN) is a domestic airport located in Siborong-Borong in North Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The airport is located approximately 47 miles (76 km) from Parapat, a town on the shore of Lake Toba, and serves as the main gateway to the lake and its surrounding region. It was developed to improve air connectivity and support economic and tourism growth in Lake Toba, one of Indonesia’s ten priority tourist destinations.[3] Formerly known as Silangit Airport, it was renamed in 2018 after Sisingamangaraja XII (1849–1907), a Batak king and also a national hero of Indonesia.[4] The airport is currently only connected to two cities: Jakarta and Batam. It previously operated international routes to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Singapore, but these were discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the airport’s international status was revoked by the Ministry of Transportation in 2024.[5]

History

[edit]

The airport was constructed by Japanese forces in 1944 during their occupation of the Dutch East Indies, as part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Initially built as a military airbase, it held strategic importance by facilitating the rapid movement of troops and supplies, supporting Japan’s efforts to control key cities in North Sumatra, and serving as a major defensive position against Allied forces.[6] Upon its completion, the airbase was notably used to receive Indonesian independence leader and future president Sukarno, who was visiting the Lake Toba area at the time. After the war ended, the airbase remained unused and abandoned for several decades.[7]

After several decades of neglection, the airport underwent renovation in 1995 to support the growing number of passengers visiting Lake Toba. This included extending the original 900-meter runway to 1,400 meters to accommodate larger aircraft. On 9 March 2005, then-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially inaugurated the newly renovated airport.[8] It was named Silangit, a word derived from the Toba Batak expression Silang di langit or “Cross in the sky,” symbolizing salvation. Local residents believe that Silangit conveys the idea of physical and spiritual deliverance, particularly in light of the suffering endured during the Dutch colonial era, which claimed many lives. As a result, whenever a child asked their mother about the whereabouts of their father, the response was often: Silang di langit i amang inang haporusan (“The cross in the sky, my child, that is salvation”).[6]

Since 2011, the airport has been increasingly used by tourists visiting various destinations around the Lake Toba region. In 2012, its ownership was transferred from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to Angkasa Pura II through the Ministry of Transportation. The airport is now managed by InJourney Airports.[7]

A major expansion took place in 2017, including the construction of a larger terminal and supporting infrastructure, as well as the extension of the runway to 2,650 meters. The expansion was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on 24 November 2017.[9] Around the same time, the airport was designated as an international airport on 28 October 2017, marked by the first charter flight to Singapore operated by Garuda Indonesia.[10] However, all international flights were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the prolonged absence of international services, the Ministry of Transportation officially revoked the airport’s international status on 2 April 2024.[11] There are proposals to reopen international flights to the airport to accommodate foreign tourists coming to Lake Toba.[12]

On 8 September 2018, under a regulation issued by the Ministry of Transportation, the airport was renamed to its current name in honor of Sisingamangaraja XII, a Batak ruler and a recognized national hero of Indonesia.[13] He was known for his staunch resistance against colonialism and was killed in a skirmish with Dutch troops in 1907.

The airport was named the best airport in Asia-Pacific in 2020 (under 2 million passengers per annum) by Airports Council International.[14]

Facilities and development

[edit]

To support the growth of tourism, the government upgraded the airport’s facilities by constructing a new terminal, extending the runway, and widening the apron. With the inauguration of the modern, well-equipped terminal on 15 September 2017, the airport began offering a more comfortable and efficient experience for passengers.[15] The terminal’s capacity was expanded significantly, from 36,500 passengers per year to 1 million. Initially covering an area of 500 square meters, the terminal was planned to be expanded to 1,700 square meters. The new terminal also introduced several facilities that were not available in the previous one, including Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine services, enabling the airport to begin handling international flights the following year.[15]

The airport has full digital-based services, which include digital airport bus schedules, e-payment systems, a wifi.id corner and smart baggage claim – a facility to monitor the position of passengers' baggage. The airport is also equipped with tourism information kiosks that give a wide range of information about activities in the nearby area.[16]

The airport has a runway of 2,650 m × 45 m (8,694 ft × 148 ft), which was extended from the original 2,400 meters in 2016 to accommodate larger aircraft and eventually to boost tourism growth in the region.[17][18] There are proposals to further extend the runway to 3,000 meters to enable the airport to accommodate wide-body aircraft.[9]

Indonesia AirAsia aircraft at Silangit airport

Airlines and destinations

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
Citilink Batam, Jakarta–Halim Perdanakusuma
Indonesia AirAsia Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta[19]
Super Air Jet Batam,[20] Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta[21]

Traffic and statistics

[edit]

Traffic

[edit]
Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics
Year
Passengers
handled
Passenger
% change
Cargo
(tonnes)
Cargo
% change
Aircraft
movements
Aircraft
% change
2009 3,644 Steady 0 Steady 612 Steady
2010 5,599 Increase 53.6 0 Steady 776 Increase 26.8
2011 6,421 Increase 14.7 0 Steady 842 Increase 8.5
2012 6,354 Decrease 1.0 63 Steady 748 Decrease 11.2
2013 12,544 Increase 97.4 0 Decrease 100 1,208 Increase 61.5
2014 24,003 Increase 91.4 0 Steady 1,282 Increase 6.1
2015 17,784 Decrease 25.9 0 Steady 953 Decrease 25.7
2016 155,214 Increase 772.8 12 Steady 2,693 Increase 182.6
2017 281,354 Increase 81.3 122 Increase 916.7 3,787 Increase 40.6
2018 425,463 Increase 51.2 350 Increase 186.9 4,878 Increase 28.8
2019 376,797 Decrease 11.4 713 Increase 103.7 3,732 Decrease 23.5
2020 182,586 Decrease 51.5 608 Decrease 14.7 1,928 Decrease 48.3
2021 205,446 Increase 12.5 2,444 Increase 302.0 2,190 Increase 13.6
2022 300,529 Increase 46.3 2,952 Increase 20.8 2,382 Increase 8.8
2023 448,157 Increase 49.1 3,522 Increase 19.3 3,310 Increase 39.0
Source: DGCA, BPS[2][22]

Statistics

[edit]
Busiest flights out of Raja Sisingamangaraja XII Airport by frequency (2025)[1]
Rank Destinations Frequency (weekly) Airline(s)
1 Jakarta Jakarta, Jakarta Special Capital Region (all airports) 31 Citilink, Indonesia AirAsia, Super Air Jet
2 Riau Islands Batam, Riau Islands 3 Citilink, Super Air Jet
[edit]
  • Check-in area
    Check-in area
  • Boarding gate
    Boarding gate
  • Baggage claim area
    Baggage claim area

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Raja Sisingamangaraja XII" (in Indonesian). Ministry of Transportation. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Statistik Angkatan Udara 2023" (PDF). DGCA. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Jokowi plans to replicate Bali's success in 10 other Indonesian spots". The Straits Times. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  4. ^ "The Government Changes the Name of Silangit to Sisingamangaraja International Airport". Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  5. ^ 2024, Bandara Internasional di Indonesia Tinggal 17 Bandara, Dipangkas Menhub, Ini Daftar Lengkapnya Page one and two.
  6. ^ a b Sodikun, Busron (17 June 2023). "Satu Bandara, Tiga Nama". kumparan (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-05-10.
  7. ^ a b Pardosi, Maurits (11 October 2024). "Sejarah Bandara Sisingamangaraja XII Silangit, Diresmikan Presiden Jokowi Jadi Bandara Internasional". Tribun-medan.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-05-10.
  8. ^ "Presiden SBY akan Resmikan Bandara Silangit Tapanuli Utara". detiknews (in Indonesian). 9 March 2005. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
  9. ^ a b Jordan, Ray (24 November 2017). "Usai Peresmian, Jokowi Langsung Minta Bandara Silangit Diperbesar". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-05-10.
  10. ^ "Oktober, Garuda Indonesia Layani Penerbangan Internasional Singapura-Silangit". Kompas. 25 September 2017.
  11. ^ Utomo, Rahmat; Arief, Teuku Muhammad Valdy (30 April 2024). "Bandara Silangit Ternyata Sudah Tak Layani Penerbangan Internasional sejak Pandemi Covid-19". Kompas (in Indonesian).
  12. ^ "Gubernur Bobby Usulkan Penerbangan Internasional Langsung ke Danau Toba melalui Bandara Silangit - Kaldera.id". kaldera.id (in Indonesian). 10 May 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
  13. ^ "Bandara Internasional Silangit Resmi Berganti Nama". Tempo (in Indonesian). 2018-09-08. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
  14. ^ "2020 - Best Airport by Size and Region - ACI World". aci.aero. Archived from the original on 2021-03-01.
  15. ^ a b "Bandara Silangit Rampung Bulan Depan, ke Danau Toba Cuma Sejam". Detik.com. 7 August 2017.
  16. ^ "Silangit Airport spoils tourists with full digital-based services". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  17. ^ "Jokowi calls local governments unite Lake Toba development". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Jokowi discusses Silangit Airport, Lake Toba development". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  19. ^ "Indonesia AirAsia Resmi Buka Rute Jakarta-Silangit, Terbang 3 Kali Seminggu". finance.detik. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  20. ^ "Super Air Jet Buka Rute Penerbangan Baru, Batam-Silangit". gokepri. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Super Air Jet Buka Rute Jakarta-Silangit PP, Terbang Mulai 26 September 2023". Kumparan.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Statistik Angkatan Udara 2019" (PDF). DGCA. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
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