Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport

Raja Haji Fisabilillah International Airport
Bandar Udara Internasional Raja Haji Fisabilillah
Summary
Airport typePublic / Military
OwnerGovernment of Indonesia
OperatorInJourney Airports
ServesBintan Island
LocationTanjungpinang, Riau Islands, Indonesia
Time zoneWIB (UTC+07:00)
Elevation AMSL52 ft / 16 m
Coordinates00°55′21″N 104°31′56″E / 0.92250°N 104.53222°E / 0.92250; 104.53222
Websitewww.rajahajifisabilillah-airport.co.id
Map
TNJ/WIDN
Location in Bintan Island
TNJ/WIDN
Location in Riau Islands
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 2,500 8,202 Asphalt]
Statistics (2024)
Passengers263,680 ( 14.17%)
Cargo (tonnes)8,165.12 ( 32.50%)
Aircraft movements4,048 ( 19.41%)
Source: DGCA[1][2]

Raja Haji Fisabilillah International Airport (IATA: TNJ, ICAO: WIDN), formerly Kijang Airport, is an international airport serving Tanjungpinang on Bintan Island, the capital of Riau Islands province, Indonesia. The airport is named after Raja Haji Fisabilillah, a Bugis-Malay leader and Yang di-Pertuan Muda of Riau who resisted Dutch colonization in the 18th century and is recognized as a national hero of Indonesia. The airport is located approximately 7 km (4.3 miles) from Tanjungpinang city center. It is the second-largest and busiest airport in the Riau Islands, after Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam, and the only airport on Bintan Island, serving as the main gateway to both Tanjungpinang and Bintan. The airport currently handles limited domestic services, primarily to Jakarta and several regional destinations within the Riau Islands. In the past, it served routes to Batam and Pekanbaru, as well as international flights to Malaysia and China, all of which have since been discontinued.

In addition to civilian operations, the airport hosts Naval Air Station Tanjungpinang, a Class A facility of the Indonesian Navy’s Naval Aviation Center (Puspenerbal), located southeast of the passenger terminal across the runway. The Indonesian Air Force also maintains a presence at the airport through Raja Haji Fisabilillah Air Force Base, a Type B facility.

History

Construction and early history

During the Dutch colonial era, before an airport was established in Tanjungpinang, the only airfield in the Riau Islands was located in Dabo, Singkep, and was owned by the tin mining company Singkep Tin Maatschappij.[3] As Tanjungpinang lacked an airfield, the Dutch carrier KLM operated amphibious aircraft, including Dornier Wal flying boats and Catalinas, which were capable of taking off from and landing on water.[3] These aircraft served Tanjungpinang using the waters between the town and Penyengat Island as a landing area. Following the recognition of Indonesian sovereignty in 1949, the amphibious air route pioneered by KLM was continued by Garuda Indonesia using Catalina flying boats. However, on 19 July 1954, Garuda Indonesia discontinued the service.[3]

The construction of Kijang Airfield took place during the transitional period between the Dutch administration and the Republic of Indonesia in the early 1950s. Previously, there are evidence that the Japanese had previously explored locations for an airfield in the vicinity of present-day Kijang to support their war effort against the Allies during the Pacific War of World War II, although these plans were never fully realised due to Japan’s defeat in 1945.[4] In 1951–1952, a survey team from Jakarta arrived, and the survey was soon followed by the construction of the airfield by the Public Works Department, together with several prominent contractors from Tanjungpinang.[5] In 1953, Kijang Airfield was officially inaugurated by Minister of Transportation Adnan Kapau Gani as a modest facility, featuring a hardened bauxite runway and very limited aviation infrastructure.[5] Records indicate that a Garuda Indonesia de Havilland Heron aircraft were among the first to land at the airfield.[4]

During the PRRI rebellion in mainland Sumatra in the late 1950s, the airfield served as a major Indonesian Air Force base supporting operations against the rebels. In February 1958, the Indonesian military launched Operation Tegas, aimed at crushing the PRRI movement in Central Sumatra by targeting Pekanbaru, the provincial capital of Riau, which had fallen under rebel control.[6] Kijang Airfield played a crucial role as a staging base for troops and aircraft, supporting airborne assaults and landing operations in Pekanbaru. At the height of the operation, up to 40 aircraft were concentrated at the airfield, including 26 C-47 Dakota transport aircraft, 10 P-51 Mustang fighters, and 4 B-25 Mitchell bombers.[6] Following the operation, the Indonesian Air Force continued to conduct air raids from the airfield against PRRI strongholds, including Padang and Bukittinggi.[4]

Contemporary period

Initially, the airport was managed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation under the Ministry of Transportation. In 2000, operations of Kijang Airport were transferred to Angkasa Pura II, which was later rebranded as InJourney Airports.[7]

On 12 April 2008, Kijang Airport was officially renamed Raja Haji Fisabilillah International Airport in honour of Raja Haji Fisabilillah (1727–1784), the fourth Yang di-Pertuan Muda of Riau and a national hero of Indonesia. The renaming was formalized during a ceremony officiated by then Minister of Transportation Jusman Syafii Djamal, which also marked the completion of the airport’s renovation.[8]

The airport was previously served by Sky Aviation on routes from Malacca, Malaysia, until mid-2013, when the airline ceased operations.[9] Following this, the airport no longer had any regular international services. On 17 December 2016, Citilink launched charter flights from Tanjungpinang to Wuhan, briefly restoring international connectivity; however, these services were also short-lived.[10]

On April 2, 2024, the Ministry of Transportation revoked the international airport status of Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport due to the absence of regular international flights.[11] The international status was reactivated on August 2025.[12] Following its reactivation, in 2025, the airport planned to open international routes to two Malaysian cities including Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur.[13] In 2026, it was announced that the AirAsia will be the first Malaysian low-cost airline to serve international flights from the airport, to Kuala Lumpur in the future.[14]

Facilities and development

In May 2007, the government allocated funding for the airport’s development, with construction commencing in June. The project included the addition of new facilities such as radar systems, as well as an extension of the runway by approximately 400 metres, increasing its length from 1,856 metres to 2,256 metres.[15] At the time, the airport was capable of accommodating narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737-800, although with limited capacity.[16] The runway was further extended to 2,500 metres in 2018 at a cost of approximately Rp 24 billion, enabling the airport to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Boeing 737-900ER.[17]

A new passenger terminal covering 8,300 m², equipped with a jet bridge, was inaugurated in November 2013.[18] The terminal has a design capacity of 1 million passengers per year, replacing the previous 1,200-square-metre facility, which could accommodate only 300,000 passengers annually.[19] The terminal features a modern architectural design with Malay influences and a green, eco-friendly concept.[16] Angkasa Pura II subsequently invested Rp 202.6 billion in the airport’s development during the 2014–2015 period, including Rp 169.3 billion for airside facilities and Rp 33.3 billion for operational buildings and supporting infrastructure.[18] The development included an apron expansion starting in 2014, increasing its capacity to accommodate up to five Boeing 737-900ER aircraft, compared to the previous capacity of only three Boeing 737 classics.[20] Angkasa Pura II also planned the construction of operational buildings, a fire station, and cargo facilities.[20]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Batik Air Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta
Citilink Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta[21]
Susi Air Dabo,[22] Letung,[22] Tambelan[22]

Statistics

Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics
Year
Passengers
handled
Passenger
% change
Cargo
(tonnes)
Cargo
% change
Aircraft
movements
Aircraft
% change
2006 17,991 N/A 2,159
2007 37,405 107.91 134.86 2,521 16.77
2008 130,943 250.07 940.32 597.26 3,318 31.61
2009 157,599 20.36 1,155.95 22.93 3,437 3.59
2010 161,409 2.42 1,608.45 39.15 2,790 18.82
2011 231,183 43.23 1,596.11 0.77 2,931 5.05
2012 291,375 26.04 1,940.48 21.58 3,835 30.84
2013 252,501 13.34 2,377.06 22.50 3,232 15.72
2014 265,407 5.11 2,742.78 15.39 2,662 17.64
2015 258,936 2.44 2,400.73 12.47 2,542 4.51
2016 272,397 5.20 2,732.44 13.82 2,746 8.03
2017 351,727 29.12 2,803.49 2.60 4,446 61.91
2018 387,201 10.09 3,150.30 12.37 5,449 22.56
2019 307,614 20.55 2,942.13 6.61 4,669 14.31
2020 120,021 60.98 2,988.19 1.57 2,435 47.85
2021 129,195 7.64 5,062.21 69.41 3,222 32.32
2022 206,873 60.12 4,720.44 6.75 3,930 21.97
2023 230,956 11.64 6,162.33 30.55 3,390 13.74
2024 263,680 14.17 8,165.12 32.50 4,048 19.41
Source: DGCA, BPS[2][23]

Accidents and incidents

  • On 16 April 2025, Garuda Indonesia Flight 288, operating from Jakarta to Tanjungpinang on a Boeing 737-800, experienced a nose gear failure upon landing at Raja Haji Fisabilillah International Airport, with the front wheel detaching on touchdown. None of the 161 occupants were injured, and the aircraft was able to taxi to the terminal; however, flights to and from the airport were disrupted for several hours.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Bandar Udara Raja Haji Fisabilillah" (in Indonesian). Ministry of Transportation. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Statistik Transportasi Udara 2024". Statistics Indonesia. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  3. ^ a b c Syahri, Aswandi (2021-02-01). "Garuda Indonesia dan Sejarah Penerbangan Kepulauan Riau di Tanjungpinang (1929-1955)". jantungmelayu.co (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  4. ^ a b c Arman, Dedi (2023-08-29). "Sejarah Perkembangan Tanjungpinang Sebagai Markas Militer di Daerah Perbatasan". Jurnal Archipelago. 2 (1): 7–14. doi:10.69853/ja.v2i1.23. ISSN 2986-6359.
  5. ^ a b Winsyah (30 May 2024). "Riau Turun Derajatnya! Bandar Udara Internasional Raja Haji Fisabilillah Dicoret Statusnya Alias Turun Kelas, Bandaranya Tidak Diakui oleh Pemerintah". Harian Haluan (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  6. ^ a b "Lanud RHF Bersama Masyarakat Kota Tanjungpinang Gelar Karya Bhakti di Monumen Perjuangan TNI Angkatan Udara". Berita Investigasi (in Indonesian). 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  7. ^ "Cerita bandara Kepri yang segera jadi airport mall". merdeka.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  8. ^ Suryanto (2008-04-02). "Menhub Resmikan Bandara Raja Haji Fisabilillah". Antara News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  9. ^ Suwadha, Dedy (30 March 2012). "Sky Aviation Layani Rute Penerbangan Tanjungpinang Malaka". Tribunbatam.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  10. ^ Widodo, Wahyu Setyo. "17 Desember, Citilink Bakal Layani Rute Wuhan-Tanjungpinang". detikTravel (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  11. ^ Expat, Indonesia (2024-04-29). "Indonesia Revokes International Status of 17 Airports". Indonesia Expat. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  12. ^ Ogen (2025-08-13). "Bandara RHF Tanjungpinang Kepri kembali berstatus internasional". Antara News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  13. ^ Roland (2025-09-18). "Pemko Tanjungpinang Dorong Lion Group Buka Penerbangan Tanjungpinang-Malaysia". presmedia.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  14. ^ "Air Asia Dikabarkan Isi Rute Penerbangan Internasional di Bandara RHF Tanjungpinang". GOTV News. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  15. ^ Insani, Erita Fitrah (29 April 2025). "Sejarah Bandara Raja Haji Fisabilillah Tanjungpinang". rri.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  16. ^ a b Kusuma, Edward Febriyatri (26 February 2016). "Begini Wajah Baru Bandara Raja Haji Fisabilillah". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  17. ^ Ashab, Muhammad Bunga (13 March 2018). "Bandara RHF Tanjung Pinang Siap Tampung Pesawat Besar". SINDOnews Daerah (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  18. ^ a b Sutianto, Feby Dwi (20 November 2013). "Bandara Raja Haji Fisabilillah Kepulauan Riau Punya Terminal Baru". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  19. ^ "Terminal Baru Bandara Raja Haji Fisabililah Siap Dioperasikan". beritatrans.com (in Indonesian). 29 October 2013. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  20. ^ a b "Bandara Raja Haji Fisabilillah punya terminal baru". kontan.co.id (in Indonesian). 2013-11-20. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  21. ^ "Mulai 1 Februari 2026, Citilink Terbang Jakarta-Tanjung Pinang Setiap Hari". travel.kompas.com. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  22. ^ a b c Febriyuanda (28 January 2026). "Jadwal Lengkap dan Tarif Susi Air ke Bandara Dabo Singkep dan Kota Lain, Mulai Februari 2026". Tribunbatam.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
  23. ^ "Statistik Angkatan Udara 2019" (PDF). DGCA. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  24. ^ Hutajulu, Matius Alfons (16 April 2025). "Garuda Jelaskan Insiden Ban Pesawat Copot saat Mendarat di Bandara Kepri". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-21.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport.
  • Raja Haji Fisabilillah International Airport - Indonesia Airport Global Website
  • Airport page at PT. Angkasa Pura II
  • Accident history for TNJ at Aviation Safety Network
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