The Ministry of Transportation, through Ministerial Decree Number 55 of 2025, has revoked the international status of the Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) Airport and the Weda Bay Airport in Central Halmahera, North Maluku Province. The decree was signed by the Minister of Transportation on October 13, 2025, and announced on November 28, 2025.
Upon the new regulation coming into effect, Ministerial Decree Number 38 of 2025 (which designated IMIP, Weda Bay, and Sultan Syarief Haroen Setia Negara Airport in Pelalawan, Riau Province as temporary limited international airports), issued on August 8, 2025, was repealed.
According to the new decree, only Sultan Syarief Haroen Setia Negara retains its international status, while Bersujud Airport in Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, has been designated as a full international airport. It is understood that IMIP Airport received its international status in August in response to President Prabowo's call to increase the number of international airports, but due to failure to meet multiple conditions, its operating permit has not yet been issued.
On September 15, IMIP sent a letter to the Directorate General of Immigration stating that it did not wish to become an international airport, citing no current plans for direct international flights and related infrastructure. Consequently, the Ministry of Transportation issued Decree Number 55 on October 13, restoring IMIP and Weda Bay airports to serve only domestic flights. Aviation observers believe the new regulation clarifies that the previous designation of international status for both airports is no longer valid.
The Ministry of Transportation, through Ministerial Decree Number 55 of 2025, has revoked the international status of the Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) Airport and the Weda Bay Airport in Central Halmahera, North Maluku Province. The decree was signed by the Minister of Transportation on October 13, 2025, and announced on November 28, 2025.
Upon the new regulation coming into effect, Ministerial Decree Number 38 of 2025 (which designated IMIP, Weda Bay, and Sultan Syarief Haroen Setia Negara Airport in Pelalawan, Riau Province as temporary limited international airports), issued on August 8, 2025, was repealed.
According to the new decree, only Sultan Syarief Haroen Setia Negara retains its international status, while Bersujud Airport in Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, has been designated as a full international airport. It is understood that IMIP Airport received its international status in August in response to President Prabowo's call to increase the number of international airports, but due to failure to meet multiple conditions, its operating permit has not yet been issued.
On September 15, IMIP sent a letter to the Directorate General of Immigration stating that it did not wish to become an international airport, citing no current plans for direct international flights and related infrastructure. Consequently, the Ministry of Transportation issued Decree Number 55 on October 13, restoring IMIP and Weda Bay airports to serve only domestic flights. Aviation observers believe the new regulation clarifies that the previous designation of international status for both airports is no longer valid.