Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport has adopted a strict nighttime schedule for runway repairs. Every night from two to seven in the morning, all takeoffs and landings are halted to allow crews to remove the old surface layer and lay a new one designed for increased traffic and heavier aircraft.
The management emphasizes that the operation will last several months and is conducted "solely for safety" — once completed, the runway will have enhanced load-bearing capacity and greater durability.
As explained by the airport's general director Ahmad Syauqi Shahab, carriers received an official notice back in May with the exact schedule of the "quiet window" to allow for the advance adjustment of flight chains. Any delay in an evening flight means its return departure is automatically postponed until morning: the runway is completely closed during the fresh asphalt laying.
The new rule immediately tested the punctuality of airlines. On the night of July 11-12, the Super Air Jet flight IU 744 from Jakarta landed at almost two in the morning instead of 8:45 PM. By that time, the runway had already been handed over to the road crews, and the request for the return flight IU 745 at three in the morning was denied. The aircraft with 172 passengers took off only at 8:29, once the work was completed.
The situation went viral thanks to former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, who was among those delayed. In videos spread on social media, he demanded an "immediate solution" and complained about the stuffiness in the terminal. The airport administration responded that the delay was due to the late arrival of the incoming flight, not the repairs.
Super Air Jet publicly apologized, explaining the mishap was due to a disrupted fleet rotation, and provided passengers with meals, accommodation, and transport to the new departure time.
The airport advises travelers whose flights are scheduled for late in the evening to closely monitor their departure status. If your plane lands after midnight, it can only depart again after seven in the morning when the runway reopens. The waiting time will be at least five hours. The runway repairs continue every night, and, as emphasized by the administration, there will be no deviations from the schedule.
Sources: bali.antaranews.com, detik.com
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