BULELENG – Senior Balinese royal figures have called on the Indonesian government to immediately move forward with the construction of a long-planned international airport in North Bali, urging President Prabowo Subianto to honor a commitment formally outlined in national development policy.
The appeal was made by 13 Balinese elders, or penglingsir, from the Paiketan Puri-Puri Se-Jebag Bali (P3SB), who said the project is critical to addressing long-standing economic imbalances between northern and southern Bali.
“The government has issued a clear legal mandate. We are tired of speculation,” said Tjokorda Putra Nindya, a senior member of P3SB. “What people need now is certainty and concrete action, starting with a groundbreaking.”
The North Bali International Airport is explicitly listed in Presidential Regulation No. 12 of 2025 on Indonesia’s 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan, signed by President Prabowo on Feb. 10, 2025, which designates Kubutambahan, Buleleng, as the project site.
Balinese elders argue the airport is not a political project but a tool for more balanced development. Government data shows southern Bali accounts for nearly 87% of the island’s economic output, while the north contributes about 8%, a disparity that has fueled calls for new infrastructure.
The project is designed to be financed entirely by private investment, including foreign capital from China and the Middle East, meaning it would not rely on state funds, according to project backers.
“If investors are ready and the regulation is clear, there should be no further delay,” said AA Ngurah Ugrasena, Penglingsir of Puri Agung Singaraja.
Economists warn that uncertainty over the project’s location could undermine investor confidence, noting that reviving alternative site proposals would undo years of planning.
Project developer PT BIBU Panji Sakti said technical preparations and funding commitments are in place, with a target to have the first runway operational by 2028.
Balinese elders said their call was rooted in moral responsibility rather than political pressure, stressing the airport represents economic fairness and long-awaited recognition for North Bali.***
