West Java International Airport (BIJB), also known as Kertajati Airport, is now focusing on developing its area into an integrated aircraft maintenance hub in Indonesia. The Kertajati Aircraft Maintenance Center (KAMC) is being developed on a 84.2-hectare plot, which is part of the 3,480-hectare Kertajati Aerocity.
Acting President Director of PT Bandarudara Internasional Jawa Barat (BIJB), Muhamad Singgih, expressed optimism that Kertajati Airport will grow into a national center for aircraft maintenance. Given the large area available, he stated that up to 12 hangars could be built within the 84.2-hectare zone. Should there be a need for expansion, Kertajati still has access to hundreds of additional hectares.
“If, at some point, the ecosystem requires more land, we already have a designated area in the Aerocity known as the Aerospace Park, which spans several hundred hectares. It’s ready for development if land demand in the current airport area increases. The surrounding land in the Aerospace Park can accommodate this expansion,” Singgih explained to AviaX.
Kertajati Airport, which has struggled to attract consistent traffic in recent years, drew public attention after PT Garuda Maintenance Facility Aero Asia Tbk (GMF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Head of Agreement (HoA) to develop and manage the Aerospace Park within BIJB. GMF, a subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia specializing in aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO), will serve as the anchor tenant, constructing MRO facilities and managing the zone. Singgih hopes that GMF’s presence will attract other MRO industry players to invest and establish operations at Kertajati.
“After GMF agreed to partner with us in managing this area, our hope is that OEM tenants and machinery-based industries will follow. GMF will be the first tenant, and we anticipate other aerospace-related companies to join and establish their presence here,” he added.
Singgih further noted that GMF, as the pioneering MRO company at Kertajati, plans to begin by focusing on helicopter maintenance by the end of 2025.
“They will start with helicopter services this year, according to the plan. After that, they will move on to fixed-wing aircraft. The timeline and scope for the fixed-wing segment will be discussed soon, with a roadmap to be outlined together with Bappenas,” he stated.
Regarding the broader Aerocity development, Singgih expressed strong hope that the initiatives will be successfully implemented and attract stakeholders in the aerospace industry. He added that MRO activity at Kertajati is expected to stimulate other aviation sectors within the airport.
“Once MRO operations are active, cargo services will naturally follow. With Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul activities based in Kertajati, we also hope that airlines will consider establishing hubs here,” he said.
“I believe the airport will become more vibrant. This is a foundational step—perhaps even a leap—toward revitalizing Kertajati, helping it succeed and grow into a robust player in the aerospace industry,” Singgih concluded.