West Java's governor, Dedi Mulyadi, said this year that Kertajati International Airport (KJT) may stop handling commercial flights once Husein Sastranegara Airport is fully back in operation. Nothing's finalized yet. Coordination meetings with the Ministry of Transportation are still ongoing. But if you're planning a Bandung trip for later this year, this is worth knowing now, not after you've booked a flight to an airport that's changing its role.
What's actually changing
Kertajati opened as West Java's main commercial airport back in 2023, after Husein Sastranegara stopped handling most jet traffic (it shares a runway with an Indonesian Air Force base). That arrangement is now shifting back. Kertajati currently runs just two weekly flights to Singapore on Scoot. That's a big drop from what the airport was built to handle, and it's part of why officials are talking about repurposing it. The ideas on the table include private charter flights and aircraft maintenance operations (MRO) instead of regular passenger service.
Why Husein Sastranegara is taking its place back
Husein Sastranegara sits about 5 km from central Bandung. Compare that to Kertajati, which is 90 to 100 km out in Majalengka. Once Husein handles regular commercial flights again, the math is simple: a 15 to 30 minute drive beats a 2 to 2.5 hour one. We covered the reactivation timeline in our Husein Sastranegara reopening guide if you want the fuller picture.
The Whoosh factor
While all this plays out, the Jakarta-Bandung Whoosh high-speed train keeps pulling more weight. It brought close to 70,000 foreign visitors into West Java in just the first five months of 2026. For a lot of travelers right now, Whoosh plus a car transfer is simply the more dependable route into Bandung than flying, whichever airport ends up handling commercial traffic long-term. See our Jakarta to Bandung transport comparison for how the numbers stack up against driving or flying.
Have a question about your trip?
Chat on WhatsAppWhat this means for planning your trip
Don't book flights into Kertajati assuming it'll be business as usual a few months from now. Here's what actually makes sense right now:
- Flying into Jakarta, then Whoosh or car to Bandung is the most reliable option today, and will stay that way regardless of how the Kertajati situation resolves.
- Watch for Husein Sastranegara flight announcements if you want the shortest possible transfer once new routes open.
- Kertajati still works today for the specific routes it runs (Singapore via Scoot), but don't count on it as a long-term option for regular Bandung travel.
Book your Bandung transfer
Whichever airport or route you end up flying through, our team can arrange the ground transfer into Bandung with a private driver. See our airport transfer service — covering Soekarno-Hatta, Husein Sastranegara, and Kertajati — or message us on WhatsApp with your flight details and we'll confirm the fastest option available for your dates.
FAQ
Is Kertajati Airport closing? Not necessarily closing, but it may lose its role as West Java's main commercial passenger airport. Officials have floated other uses for it, including private charter flights and aircraft maintenance work, instead of shutting it down outright.
Can I still fly into Kertajati right now? Yes. It currently runs two weekly Scoot flights to Singapore. Just don't plan future trips assuming that schedule stays the same, since the airport's role is under active discussion.
Should I book my flight into Husein Sastranegara instead? Only once it's handling the routes you need — as of 29 July 2026, we've confirmed one bookable route (Bandung-Bali, Garuda Indonesia, from 15 August 2026). See our Husein Sastranegara booking update for what's currently available.
What's the most reliable way into Bandung right now? Flying into Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta) and continuing by Whoosh train or private car. It doesn't depend on how the Kertajati or Husein situation plays out, and it's what most travelers are already doing.
