Robert Atty Bessing Airport

Robert Atty Bessing Airport
Bandar Udara Robert Atty Bessing
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Indonesia
OperatorDirectorate General of Civil Aviation
ServesMalinau Kota
LocationMalinau Kota, Malinau Regency, North Kalimantan, Indonesia
Time zoneWITA (UTC+08:00)
Elevation AMSL8 m (26 ft)
Coordinates03°34′31″N 116°37′11″E / 3.57528°N 116.61972°E / 3.57528; 116.61972
Map
LNU is located in Borneo
LNU
LNU
Location of airport in Indonesia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 1,450 4,757 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
Passengers41,936 (Increase 4.9%)
Cargo (tonnes)245.63 (Increase 164.1%)
Aircraft movements5,142 (Increase 16.9%)
Source: DGCA[1][2]

Robert Atty Bessing Airport (IATA: LNU, ICAO: WAQM), officially Kolonel Robert Atty Bessing Airport, formerly Seluwing Airport, is a domestic regional airport serving Malinau Kota, the administrative seat of Malinau Regency, North Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is located in the Indonesian territory of Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. The airport is named after Robert Atty Bessing, a former colonel in the Indonesian Army who later served as Regent of Bulungan, the regency in which the airport was located before Malinau Regency was established in 1999. The airport is located close to the town center, approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) from the Malinau Regent's Office, and serves as the main gateway to Malinau and the surrounding areas. It also serves as a local hub for Susi Air, which operates pioneer flights to remote areas of North Kalimantan. In addition, Wings Air operates scheduled flights from the airport to Balikpapan.

History

Construction and early history

Airport front gate

The history of the airport dates back to the need for improved air transportation infrastructure to facilitate mobility in Malinau and the surrounding areas. In 1995, the Bulungan Regency Government received financial assistance from the central government to construct an airport serving Malinau and its surrounding communities.[3] Construction began in 1997 and was completed in 1998.[3] The airport has since become a vital air transportation lifeline for the border region of North Kalimantan, playing a crucial role in overcoming the geographical isolation that has long posed a significant challenge to the area.[4] Following the establishment of Malinau Regency as a separate administrative entity from Bulungan Regency in 1999, the airport also became an important symbol of the region’s growing self-reliance and a key component of its transportation infrastructure.[4]

The airport was originally known as Seluwing Airport. The name “Seluwing” refers to the local geographical identity of the area where the original runway was first constructed.[4]

Before 2009, the airport operated primarily as a pioneer airport with limited facilities. Its runway was relatively small and could accommodate only small commercial and pioneer aircraft.[3] In 2009, the airport began undergoing development and expansion.[3] The runway was extended to approximately 1,450 meters in length and 30 meters in width, allowing the airport to accommodate ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft, which became the mainstay of commercial air services in the region.[3] The passenger terminal was also refurbished as part of the airport’s development. The project was completed in 2010 and officially inaugurated in July 2012 by Awang Faroek Ishak, then Governor of East Kalimantan, prior to the establishment of North Kalimantan as a separate province from East Kalimantan.[5] The development cost approximately Rp16 billion and was funded through the East Kalimantan provincial budget (APBD).[5]

Following the runway expansion, the airport became capable of handling flights to major cities such as Balikpapan. In February 2018, Wings Air launched a direct route between Malinau and Balikpapan, connecting the town with one of Kalimantan’s major aviation gateways and providing onward connections to numerous destinations across Indonesia.[6]

Contemporary history

In 2019, the airport was renamed Kolonel Robert Atty Bessing Airport in honor of Robert Atty Bessing, an Indonesian Army officer and former Regent of Bulungan Regency.[3] He played an important role in the separation and establishment of Malinau Regency, which was intended to accelerate the region’s development.[7] The renaming was met with opposition from some local residents, particularly members of the indigenous Tidung community in Malinau Kota.[3] Critics questioned Bessing’s historical contribution to Malinau and argued that his role in the region’s political history, including the formation of the regency and the political dynamics surrounding its early administration, was subject to differing interpretations.[3] The opposition was also influenced by broader local political considerations surrounding the creation of Malinau Regency, including the centralized nature of government decision-making during the pre-expansion period and disagreements over the proposed administrative boundaries of the new regency. Some residents argued that the airport should instead be named after a local figure with a stronger historical connection to Malinau and its indigenous communities.[3]

A high-profile incident occurred at the airport on 2 February 2022, when officers from the Malinau Regency municipal police forcibly removed several Susi Air aircraft from their hangar using chains.[8] The action was reportedly taken after the lease on Susi Air’s hangar expired following 10 years of use. Susi Air had previously sought to extend the lease, but its request was rejected by the Malinau Regency Government.[8] The airline subsequently requested a three-month extension to vacate the hangar, allowing it to gradually remove its aircraft and equipment.[8] Susi Air called on the Regent and Regional Secretary of Malinau to issue a written apology to the airline’s management over the forced eviction from the hangar and the forcible removal of its aircraft.[9] The airline also sought Rp8.95 billion in compensation for operational losses resulting from the incident.[9]

Subsequently, Smart Aviation took over several pioneer routes previously operated by Susi Air.[10] However, in January 2026, Susi Air resumed operating pioneer air services in North Kalimantan, including routes to and from Malinau.[11]

As of 2026, the airport is actively seeking to attract airlines to open new routes to Malinau, including a proposed connection to Samarinda to complement existing services to Balikpapan and Tarakan. Proposals have also been put forward to establish a route to Tanjung Selor, the capital of North Kalimantan.[12] However, the route is not currently considered a priority due to the availability of adequate land transportation between Malinau and Tanjung Selor.[12]

Facilities and development

Boarding gate

The airport covers a total area of 48 hectares.[5] The current passenger terminal occupies approximately 3,000 m² across two floors and is capable of handling tens of thousands of passengers annually.[4] The terminal is equipped with basic passenger facilities, including check-in counters, departure gates, an arrival hall, baggage claim area, prayer room, VIP room, restaurants, ticket counters, and souvenir shops.[13] To support the distribution of goods in the border region, the airport is equipped with a 200 m² cargo terminal and a dedicated 500 m² parking area.[4] The facility serves as a vital link for the distribution of essential goods from the urban center to remote districts such as Long Bawan and Long Apung via pioneer air services.[4] Minor renovations to the passenger terminal, parking areas, and front yard were carried out in 2023.[14] The airport is also equipped with Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (PKP-PK) facilities, although they remain limited.[15] Plans have been proposed to add additional vehicles to accommodate the increasing number of flights to Malinau.[15]

On the airside, the airport has a single runway measuring 1,600 m × 30 m, although only 1,450 m is currently in use.[5][4] The runway can accommodate aircraft such as the ATR 72 and CASA C-212 Aviocar. In the future, the runway is planned to be extended to 1,800 m, allowing aircraft such as the ATR 72 to operate with a full payload.[4] Ultimately, the runway is planned to be extended to 2,400 m, enabling the airport to accommodate narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.[16] Plans for the extension have been in place since 2017, with the North Kalimantan provincial government allocating a proposed budget of Rp60 billion for a 200 m runway extension.[17] However, the project had not been realized as of 2026.[17] In addition to the runway, the airport has three taxiways, each measuring approximately 71 m × 51 m, and a single aircraft apron measuring 190 m × 70 m.[1] The airport also has a hangar used to accommodate small aircraft, which is typically rented by airlines operating pioneer services from Malinau to remote areas of North Kalimantan such as Susi Air and Smart Aviation.[18]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Susi Air Binuang,[19] Datah Dian,[19] Long Alango,[19] Long Apung,[19] Long Bawan,[19] Long Layu,[19] Long Pujungan,[19] Long Sule,[19] Mahak Baru,[19] Tarakan[20]
Wings AirBalikpapan[21]

Statistics

Aircraft serving rural areas lining up at Robert Atty Bessing Airport
Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics
Year
Passengers
handled
Passenger
% change
Cargo
(tonnes)
Cargo
% change
Aircraft
movements
Aircraft
% change
2006 N/A Steady N/A Steady N/A Steady
2007 N/A Steady N/A Steady N/A Steady
2008 N/A Steady N/A Steady N/A Steady
2009 N/A Steady N/A Steady N/A Steady
2010 10,387 Steady 36.83 Steady 1,532 Steady
2011 40,111 286.2 130.36 Increase 254.0 6,271 Increase 309.3
2012 23,617 Decrease 41.1 128.81 Decrease 1.2 3,313 Decrease 47.2
2013 53,272 Increase 125.6 0.41 Decrease 99.7 6,764 Increase 104.2
2014 28,916 Decrease 45.7 24.26 Increase 5817.1 3,007 Decrease 55.5
2015 58,844 Increase 103.5 85.82 Increase 253.8 5,810 Increase 93.2
2016 59,890 Increase 1.8 303.64 Increase 253.8 5,387 Decrease 7.3
2017 40,225 Decrease 32.8 26.37 Decrease 91.3 3,937 Decrease 26.9
2018 81,142 Increase 101.7 161.22 Increase 511.4 10,743 Increase 172.9
2019 83,520 Increase 2.9 30.62 Decrease 81.0 4,045 Decrease 62.3
2020 28,372 Decrease 66.0 62.04 Increase 102.6 2,481 Decrease 38.7
2021 14,959 Decrease 47.3 131.34 Increase 111.7 3,154 Increase 27.1
2022 33,768 Increase 125.7 129.79 Decrease 1.2 3,202 Increase 1.5
2023 39,992 Increase 18.4 93.02 Decrease 28.3 4,399 Increase 37.4
2024 41,936 Increase 4.9 245.63 Increase 164.1 5,142 Increase 16.9
Source: DGCA, BPS[2][22]

References

  1. 1 2 "Bandar Udara Kol. Robert Atty Bessing" (in Indonesian). Ministry of Transportation. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Statistik Transportasi Udara 2024". Statistics Indonesia. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Sejarah Singkat Bandara Kol. Robert Atty Bessing". hubud.kemenhub.go.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Profil Bandara Malinau 2026: Sejarah, Fasilitas Hingga Spesifikasi Lengkap". malinauterkini.com (in Indonesian). 2026-02-23. Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Amirullah (15 July 2012). "Gubernur Kaltim Resmikan Terminal Bandara Perbatasan". ANTARA News Kalimantan Timur (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  6. ↑ "Wings Air Hubungkan Malinau Dengan Balikpapan". www.jpnn.com (in Indonesian). 19 February 2018. Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  7. ↑ "Mengenal Para Pemimpin Kabupaten Bulungan". Kaltara A1 (in Indonesian). 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  8. 1 2 3 Indraini, Anisa (13 February 2022). "Kronologi Pesawat Susi Air Diusir dari Malinau, Berujung Tuntut Rp 8,9 M". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  9. 1 2 Rosana, Francisca Christy (7 February 2022). "Susi Air Somasi Bupati Malinau, Tuntut Ganti Rugi Rp 8,9 M dan Permintaan Maaf". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  10. ↑ Widyawati, Iffa Naila Safira (12 February 2022). "Lika-liku Susi Air Didepak dari Malinau Digantikan Smart Aviation". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  11. ↑ Asmalyah, Susylo (2026-01-05). "Susi Air kembali buka rute penerbangan perintis ke pedalaman Kaltara". Antara News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  12. 1 2 "Bandara Malinau Bidik Rute Baru ke Samarinda untuk Tingkatkan Konektivitas". news.republika.co.id (in Indonesian). 12 June 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026. [id]
  13. ↑ "Fasilitas Penunjang". hubud.kemenhub.go.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  14. ↑ Supri, Mohamad (30 May 2023). "Renovasi Fisik Terminal Tuntas, Bandara Kolonel RA Bessing Rencana Berlakukan Retribusi Parkir". Tribunkaltara.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  15. 1 2 Sulaiman (2026-08-26). "Fasilitas PK-PPK Bandara Perlu Ditambah". Koran Kaltara (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  16. ↑ Redaksi (2023-05-19). "Mempertanyakan Realisasi Pembangunan Bandara RA Bessing". Detak Kaltim (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  17. 1 2 Ferdiany, Firsta Susan (2017-02-03). "Pemprov Usulkan Rp 1,27 Triliun untuk Pengembangan Bandara--Gubernur Komunikasi dengan Menteri Perhubungan". kaltara.antaranews.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  18. ↑ Puspa, Anitana Widya (2022-02-08). "Biaya Sewa Hanggar Bandara Malinau, Smart Aviation: Ranah Pemda". Bisnis.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Jadwal Lengkap Dan Harga Tiket Subsidi Pesawat Susi Air 17 Rute Di Kaltara". malinauterkini.com (in Indonesian). 2026-01-14. Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  20. ↑ Bambang (2026-01-06). "Susi Air Buka Rute ke Pedalaman Kalimantan Utara". Borneo Review (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  21. ↑ "Wings Air Hubungkan Malinau Dengan Balikpapan". www.jpnn.com (in Indonesian). 19 February 2018. Retrieved 2026-08-26.
  22. ↑ "Statistik Angkatan Udara 2019" (PDF). DGCA. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.