Jenderal Ahmad Yani International Airport Bandar Udara Internasional Jenderal Ahmad Yani | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public / Military | ||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Indonesia | ||||||||||
| Operator | InJourney Airports | ||||||||||
| Serves | Semarang | ||||||||||
| Location | Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia | ||||||||||
| Operating base for | |||||||||||
| Time zone | WIB (UTC+07:00) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 10 ft / 3 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 06°58′17″S 110°22′27″E / 6.97139°S 110.37417°E / -6.97139; 110.37417 | ||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||
| Maps | |||||||||||
Java region in Indonesia | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2024) | |||||||||||
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| Source: DGCA[1][2] | |||||||||||
Jenderal Ahmad Yani International Airport (IATA: SRG, ICAO: WAHS), formerly Kalibanteng Airport. is an international airport serving the city of Semarang, the capital of Central Java, Indonesia. The airport is named after Ahmad Yani, a former Indonesian Army general who was killed during the 30 September Movement in 1965 and was posthumously recognized as a National Hero of Indonesia. Located approximately 6 km (3.7 miles) from Semarang’s city center, the airport serves as the main gateway to the city and its surrounding regions. It operates domestic flights to major destinations such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, and Balikpapan, as well as international services to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Singapore. The airport’s international status was temporarily revoked in 2024 due to the absence of international flights following the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was reinstated the following year.
In addition to serving as a commercial airport, the airport also shares its facilities with Ahmad Yani Army Air Base, a major facility of the Indonesian Army Aviation Center (Penerbad). The airbase is home to two combat squadrons: the 11th Squadron, which operates the AH-64E Guardian and Bell 412 series, and the 31st Squadron, which operates the Mil Mi-35 Hind E and Mil Mi-17. The base also hosts the Army Aviation Education Center (Pusdikpenerbad) and the Army Aviation Central Workshop (Bengpuspenerbad).
History
Colonial era


Prior to the development of the current airport, Semarang was already served by a commercial airfield in Simongan. Simongan Airfield was among the earliest airfields in the Dutch East Indies to handle commercial flights and was equipped with two runways.[3] In November 1928, the Dutch East Indies flag carrier, Koninklijke Nederlandsch-Indische Luchtvaart Maatschappij (KNILM), inaugurated flights from the airfield to Tjililitan Airfield (now Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport) in Batavia.[3] At that time, the airfield was capable of accommodating aircraft such as the Fokker F.VII.[4] For reasons that remain unclear, the airfield was eventually closed in 1935, prompting the colonial government to construct a new facility as its replacement.[5] Today, the former site of Simongan Airfield is occupied by the Semarang Islamic Center, while the former runway area has been converted into residential housing. Only a few remnants of the airfield survive, including the former administration building and a water tank.[3]
Ahmad Yani International Airport traces its origins to an airfield opened by the Dutch East Indies government in March 1938, then known as Kalibanteng Airfield.[6] At the time, the airfield was capable of accommodating aircraft such as the Douglas DC-2 and Douglas DC-3.[6] KNILM soon began operations at the new airfield, launching daily flights connecting Semarang with Surabaya and Batavia.[6]
When the Japanese invaded the Dutch East Indies in 1942 during the Pacific War, Kalibanteng Airfield was defended by British forces.[7] Japanese troops landed at Eretan Wetan in Indramayu on 28 February 1942 and advanced toward Semarang with the objective of seizing the airfield.[7] By the following day, they had reached the city and captured the airfield, overwhelming most of the British defenders, including anti-aircraft units and armed ground personnel.[7] During the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, Kalibanteng Airfield was used as a Japanese military base to support operations against Allied forces. The airfield was also upgraded, including the extension of its runway, using captured Allied prisoners of war—primarily Dutch and British—who were subjected to harsh and inhumane treatment by their captors.[8][9]
Following the Surrender of Japan, the airfield was handed over on 20 October 1945 to the Gurkhas of the 37th Brigade of the British Army.[10] The airfield was attacked by Indonesian guerrillas during the Battle of Ambarawa in the opening phase of the Indonesian National Revolution, in an effort to prevent British forces from launching attacks against Indonesian positions in Ambarawa.[11] The assault succeeded in rendering the airfield temporarily inoperative. However, this did not significantly disrupt Royal Air Force (RAF) close air support operations.[11] One aircraft was hit by ground fire and subsequently crash-landed in the nearby Lake Rawa Pening.[11] On 17 May 1946, the British withdrew and control was transferred to the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) in a ceremony.[12] For the remainder of the war, the airfield served as a major Dutch base and was frequently targeted by Indonesian guerrillas. On 5 August 1946, a significant Indonesian attack damaged one Dutch Douglas DC-3 Dakota and destroyed two others.[12] The guerrillas subsequently launched a major offensive to capture the airfield, managing to besiege it. They bombarded the facility with cannon and mortar fire, causing extensive damage; hangars and officers’ quarters were destroyed, and another Dakota transport aircraft was damaged. However, the attackers were eventually repelled by Dutch forces deploying tanks and aircraft in a counteroffensive.[12]
The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force (ML-KNIL) maintained a presence at the airfield throughout the war, using it as a launching base for operations against Indonesian forces. During preparations for Operation Kraai, ML-KNIL aircraft were assembled at the airfield, consisting of 20 C-47s, a Lockheed L-12, 10 Spitfires, three B-25s, two SB-25s, and four Austers, which were to be used in the attack on the Indonesian stronghold at Yogyakarta.[13]
Independence era

Following Dutch recognition of Indonesia’s sovereignty, the airfield was handed over to the Indonesian Army, and Dutch forces withdrew. In 1957, a major upgrade project was launched to improve the runway and other airfield facilities.[14] The works were completed in approximately four and a half months at a cost of around 1,150,000 rupiahs.[14] Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, the airfield remained a military airbase of the Indonesian Army Aviation Center (Penerbad) and was closed to commercial flights. It was only opened for commercial operations following a joint decree issued by the Air Force Chief of Staff, the Minister of Transport, and the Army Chief of Staff on 31 August 1966.[15] In the same year, the airport was renamed to its current name by order of General Suharto, in honor of Ahmad Yani, the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army who was killed by alleged communist sympathizers during the 30 September Movement in 1965.[16]
On 1 October 1995, management of the airport was transferred to Angkasa Pura I, later rebranded as InJourney Airports.[17]
Expansion began in 2004 and was implemented in phases, starting with the extension of the runway to enable the safer operation of larger aircraft. The airport was granted international status in August 2004, marked by the inaugural Semarang–Singapore flight operated by Garuda Indonesia.[5] However, following the global recession, Garuda Indonesia later discontinued the Semarang–Singapore route.[5] Batavia Air resumed the service in November 2009, but ceased operations on 31 January 2013 after filing for bankruptcy on 30 January 2013.[5] Currently, the Semarang–Singapore route is operated exclusively by Scoot.[18]
For the third consecutive year, Ahmad Yani Airport won the Cleanest Airport Award among 9 Class B Airports in Indonesia in 2013.[19]
A new terminal was inaugurated by then-President Joko Widodo on 7 June 2018. Following the opening of the new terminal, the old terminal is planned to be transferred to the Indonesian Army.[20]
On 2 April 2024, the Ministry of Transportation revoked the airport’s international status due to the absence of international flights.[21] The status was later reinstated on 26 April 2025.[22] Shortly thereafter, international services resumed, with AirAsia operating flights to Kuala Lumpur and Scoot operating flights to Singapore.[23][18]
Facilities and development


On 17 June 2014, groundbreaking was held for the construction of a new airport terminal to replace the old facility, which had reached its capacity limit.[24] The old terminal had a capacity of only 800,000 passengers per year, while in 2017 the airport already handled around 4.4 million passengers annually.[25] Therefore, the construction of a new terminal was decided to accommodate the increasing passenger demand. A total investment of Rp 2.2 trillion was allocated for the development of the new terminal and its supporting infrastructure.[24]
After extensive delays caused by land clearance issues and environmental concerns, the new terminal was officially opened to the public on 6 June 2018.[26] Covering an area of 58,652 m², it is nearly ten times larger than the old terminal, which had a total area of only 6,708 m².[27] The three-storey new terminal is equipped with three jet bridges and has a capacity of up to 7 million passengers annually, significantly higher than the old terminal’s capacity of 800,000 passengers per year.[27] It also features 30 check-in counters. The terminal was designed with an eco-friendly concept and was developed to meet green building certification standards. Built on a swamp area, the structure is often described as Indonesia’s first floating airport terminal.[28] Its construction incorporates environmentally conscious materials and takes advantage of the surrounding wetland environment.[28] The design extensively uses glass to maximize natural lighting inside the terminal, thereby reducing electricity consumption.
On the airside, the apron area of the new terminal covers 72,522 m², allowing it to accommodate up to 12 narrow-body aircraft, or a mixed configuration of 10 narrow-body aircraft and 2 wide-body aircraft.[27] In the future, the current 2,560 m runway is planned to be extended to 3,000 m to accommodate wide-body aircraft, as well as to enable the airport to handle more international flights.[29][30]
In the early 2010s, proposals to relocate the airport were raised by members of the Semarang City Regional House of Representatives. The main reason was its proximity to the city center, which restricts investors from constructing high-rise buildings exceeding 45 meters in height, as such structures could interfere with air traffic.[31] It was therefore proposed that the airport be relocated to the Demak or Kendal areas.[31] However, the proposal was rejected by Angkasa Pura I, the airport’s operator, which maintained that the airport remained safe and suitable for continued operations.[31] The Governor of Central Java, Bibit Waluyo, also opposed the plan, stating that building a new airport would require significant land acquisition and substantial funding.[32]
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
Statistics


Year |
Passengers handled |
Passenger % change |
Cargo (tonnes) |
Cargo % change |
Aircraft movements |
Aircraft % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,423,814 | 8,683 | 16,986 | |||
| 2007 | 1,465,956 | 8,651 | 21,683 | |||
| 2008 | 1,418,099 | 8,418 | 22,044 | |||
| 2009 | 1,656,668 | 8,103 | 20,577 | |||
| 2010 | 2,018,818 | 9,711 | 22,287 | |||
| 2011 | 2,426,844 | 9,373 | 25,802 | |||
| 2012 | 3,007,700 | 10,145 | 32,919 | |||
| 2013 | 3,295,022 | 10,763 | 33,898 | |||
| 2014 | 3,469,395 | 13,727 | 52,393 | |||
| 2015 | 3,682,108 | 14,353 | 36,457 | |||
| 2016 | 4,219,815 | 15,437 | 38,190 | |||
| 2017 | 4,429,076 | 17,631 | 38,615 | |||
| 2018 | 5,162,142 | 23,556 | 45,934 | |||
| 2019 | 3,906,804 | 17,875 | 36,893 | |||
| 2020 | 1,384,879 | 9,392 | 17,104 | |||
| 2021 | 883,871 | 7,975 | 10,228 | |||
| 2022 | 1,631,485 | 9,801 | 14,771 | |||
| 2023 | 2,103,076 | 14,114 | 18,243 | |||
| 2024 | 2,279,475 | 18,811 | 18,146 | |||
| Source: DGCA, BPS[2][54] | ||||||
Ground transportation
Bus
From 2005 until 2007 there was a shuttle bus service connecting the airport to the city center and Semarang Old Town. However, due to protests from local airport taxi operators, this service was terminated.
In 2013, Trans Semarang, a bus rapid transit (BRT) operator, started to serve Ahmad Yani Airport. Only one route went through the airport but all the available routes are interconnected. The expected interval is 15 to 30 minutes between buses unless there is a traffic jam.
Car and taxi
There are airport taxis provided and the reception available right in the arrival terminal. Some public taxis in Semarang cannot take passengers in the airport terminal.[55]
Accidents and incidents
- On 1 May 1981, Vickers Viscount 832 PK-RVN of Mandala Airlines carrying 44 passengers and crew was damaged beyond economic repair when it departed the runway on landing, causing the starboard and nose gear to collapse.[56]
- On 18 October 1992, Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 5601 operating a CASA/IPTN CN-235-10 PK-MNN crashed on a domestic flight from Semarang to Bandung. The aircraft impacted Mount Puntang near Mount Papandayan and burst into flames, killing all 27 passengers and four crew aboard. This is the worst disaster involving a CASA/IPTN CN-235.
- On 30 November 1994, A Fokker 28 Mk 4000 PK-GKU of Merpati Nusantara Airlines operating on flight 422 from Jakarta touched down during heavy rain far along the runway. Then it overran the runway and fell into a ditch, causing it to break into three pieces. All 85 passengers and crew survived.
- On 25 December 2016, Wings Air flight IW1896 from Bandung, using an ATR 72-600 (registration PK-WGW) suffered a landing accident. At the time of the approach, it was raining at the airport with Cumulonimbus clouds in the area at 1500 feet. Following a VOR/DME approach, the aircraft landed on runway 13 and bounced; the right main gear then folded inwards causing the aircraft to veer right. The aircraft stopped on the right runway edge near taxiway D tilting to the right. All 68 passengers and four crew survived.
References
- "Bandar Udara Jenderal Ahmad Yani" (in Indonesian). Ministry of Transportation. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- "Statistik Transportasi Udara 2024". Statistics Indonesia. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- "Melacak Jejak Bekas Bandara Pertama di Kota Semarang, Kini Nyaris Hilang Tergerus Zaman". merdeka.com (in Indonesian). 14 December 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- Purwanto, Agus (28 April 2024). "Bukan Bandara Jenderal Ahmad Yani, Inilah Bandar Udara Komersial Pertama di Semarang, Ada Sejak Zaman Kolonial Belanda". Suara Medeka (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- Muntoha, Wahyu Asyari (26 April 2024). "Bukan Lagi Bandara Internasional, Cikal Bakal Bandara di Kota Semarang Bukan Jenderal Ahmad Yani". Suara Merdeka (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- The Intava World. Intava Incorporated. 1938. p. 150.
- Rottman, Gordon L. (30 December 2001). World War II Pacific Island Guide: A Geo-Military Study. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 219. ISBN 978-0-313-07558-2.
- Taylor, Ellie (30 May 2018). A Cruel Captivity: Prisoners of the Japanese: Their Ordeal and The Legacy. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-5267-3262-0.
- The Encyclopedia of Indonesia in the Pacific War: In cooperation with the Netherlands Institute for War Documentation. BRILL. 14 December 2009. p. 177. ISBN 978-90-04-19017-7.
- Kirby, Stanley Woodburn (1957). The War Against Japan: The surrender of Japan. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 321. ISBN 978-0-11-630085-0.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - Davie, Don (1999). Military Aspects of the Opening Phase of the Indonesian Struggle for Independence August 1945 to April 1946. Northern Territory University, Darwin. p. 95.
- Nasution, Abdul Haris (1956). The Indonesian National Army. CCM Information Corporation. pp. 217–218.
- Soewito, Irna Hanny Nastoeti Hadi; Suyono, Nana Nurliana; Suhartono, Soedarini (2008). Awal kedirgantaraan di Indonesia: perjuangan AURI 1945-1950 (in Indonesian). Yayasan Obor Indonesia. p. 166. ISBN 978-979-461-672-7.
- Monthly Indonesian Press Survey. External Research Division, Bureau of Intelligence and Research. 1957. p. 53.
- Surat Keputusan Bersama Panglima Angkatan Udara, Menteri Perhubungan dan Menteri Angkatan Darat Nomor: KEP-932/9/1966.83/1966 dan S2/1/-PHB tanggal 31 Agustus 1966
- Serba serbi Angkatan Bersendjata Republik Indonesia: kumpulan utjapan2 pedjabat2 ABRI didalam pers (in Indonesian). Penerangan Komando Operasi Tertinggi. 1966. p. 39.
- Chandra, Ardan Adhi (6 September 2018). "Nama Bandara di Semarang Kini Jadi Jenderal Ahmad Yani". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- Ikhsan, M. Faisal Nur (23 December 2025). "Scoot Buka Penerbangan Langsung Semarang-Singapura". Bisnis.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- "Ahmad Yani Semarang Raih Penghargaan Bandara Terbersih". 17 August 2014.
- Saputro, Wendiyanto (10 June 2018). "AP I Masih Jajaki Peruntukan Terminal Lama Bandara Ahmad Yani". Kumparan (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- Expat, Indonesia (29 April 2024). "Indonesia Revokes International Status of 17 Airports". Indonesia Expat. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- Fauziyah, Titis Anis (26 April 2025). "Status Bandara Ahmad Yani Semarang Kembali Jadi Bandara Internasional". Kompas.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- Bahana (18 June 2025). "Penerbangan Internasional Bandara Ahmad Yani Mulai Dibuka, Tiket Semarang-Kuala Lumpur Rp760 Ribu". Radar Jogja (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- OliKolm (14 September 2015). "Bandara Ahmad Yani membuka terminal baru". www.achmadyani-airport.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- Agustinus, Michael (11 June 2018). "Bandara Ahmad Yani di Semarang Tak Lagi Overload saat Arus Mudik". Kumparan (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- "Kendala Lahan Proyek Bandara di Atas Air Semarang Sudah Tuntas". detikfinance (in Indonesian). 2 May 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- Afriyadi, Achmad Dwi (7 June 2018). "Mengapa Terminal Baru Bandara Ahmad Yani Disebut Terapung?". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- Nurdin, Nazar; Assifa, Farid (30 May 2018). "Bandara Ahmad Yani Semarang Dibangun di Atas Rawa". KOMPAS (in Indonesian).
- Nurdin, Nazar; Assifa, Farid (7 June 2018). "Jokowi Minta Landasan Pacu Bandara Ahmad Yani Diperpanjang". KOMPAS (in Indonesian).
- "Tarik Minat Maskapai Negara Eropa Buka Rute Penerbangan ke Semarang, Pemprov Jateng Usulkan Perpanjang Landasan Pacu". humas.jatengprov.go.id (in Indonesian). 5 September 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- Sohirin (26 July 2010). "Angkasa Pura Tolak Pemindahan Bandara Ahmad Yani". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- Rofiuddin (17 January 2013). "Gubernur Tolak Pindahkan Bandara Semarang". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- "AirAsia Adds Routes to Palembang and Semarang". Tempo.co. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- "Batik Air Flight from Ahmad Yani International Airport to Soekarno Hatta International Airport". www.airpaz.com.
- "Batik Air Flight from Ahmad Yani International Airport to Iskandar Airport". www.airpaz.com.
- "Citilink Flight from Ahmad Yani International Airport to Syamsudin Noor International Airport". www.airpaz.com.
- "Citilink Flight from Ahmad Yani International Airport to Soekarno Hatta International Airport". www.airpaz.com.
- "Garuda Indonesia Flight from Ahmad Yani International Airport to Soekarno Hatta International Airport". www.airpaz.com.
- "Lion Air Flight from Ahmad Yani International Airport to Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan Airport". www.airpaz.com.
- "Lion Air Flight from Ahmad Yani International Airport to Syamsudin Noor International Airport". www.airpaz.com.
- "Lion Air Flight from Ahmad Yani International Airport to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport". www.airpaz.com.
- "NAM Air Flight from Ahmad Yani International Airport to Iskandar Airport". www.airpaz.com.
- Maulina, Devita. "NAM Air layani rute Sampit-Semarang mulai 9 November". kalteng.antaranews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- "Scoot to fly to Indonesia's Labuan Bajo, Medan, Palembang and Semarang". straitstimes.com. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- Shahrizal (15 October 2025). "Scoot Expands Southeast Asia Network With Four New Indonesian Routes". businesstoday.com.my.
- Pratama, Theo Adi. "Semarang Vibes! Rute Baru dan Penerbangan Langsung dari Bandara Ahmad Yani Semarang ke Lombok, Medan, Makassar, Banjarmasin, Balikpapan, Padang, Pekanbaru dan Palembang PP". jateng.akurat (in Indonesian). Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- "Super Air Jet Flight from Ahmad Yani International Airport to Hang Nadim Airport". www.airpaz.com.
- "Super Air Jet Flight from Ahmad Yani International Airport to Ngurah Rai International Airport". www.airpaz.com.
- "Super Air Jet Flight from Ahmad Yani International Airport to Tjilik Riwut Airport". www.airpaz.com.
- "Super Air Jet Buka Rute Penerbangan Pontianak-Semarang". agent.lionair. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- "Super Air Jet Flight from Ahmad Yani International Airport to Supadio International Airport". www.airpaz.com.
- "Susi Air Buka Rute Penerbangan Baru Ke Karimunjawa Dari Semarang Dan Yogyakarta, Ini Dia Jadwal Dan Tarifnya". visitjawatengah.jatengprov.go.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- "Wings Air Terbangi Lagi Rute Surabaya ke Jogja dan Semarang". travel.detik.com. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- "Statistik Angkatan Udara 2019" (PDF). DGCA. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- Febrianto, Fajar (24 July 2018). "Insiden Penumpang Pesawat, Bandara Ini Belum Izinkan Taksi Online". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 8 October 2009.