For many Australians, a trip to Bali is almost as routine as grabbing a morning coffee. You land, navigate the busy arrivals hall at Ngurah Rai, and head straight to a beach bar in Canggu or a villa in Uluwatu. Soon, that first hour on the island could feel very different.
Indonesia has confirmed plans for a second international airport, to be built at Kubutambahan in Buleleng Regency. Groundbreaking is set for mid-2025, with completion slated for 2027. Endorsed by President Prabowo and written into national development plans, the project is designed to relieve pressure on Ngurah Rai and underpin Bali’s next phase of tourism growth.
Ngurah Rai has been running beyond its intended capacity for years, causing delays, long queues and heavy traffic across South Bali. A new gateway should shorten arrival times for Bali’s largest visitor market—Australians—while pulling traffic away from the island’s most congested districts.
Just as important, the airport will open the door to a different Bali. The north is quieter and greener, with black-sand beaches, rolling hills and landmarks such as Sekumpul and Gitgit waterfalls. Lovina’s sunrise dolphin tours, Banjar Hot Springs and the dive sites of Pemuteran lie along the same coast, yet today they require a twisting three- to four-hour drive from Denpasar. A northern airport would cut that journey sharply, spread visitor spending, support local businesses and ease the burden on the south.
Design plans call for a smart terminal, an offshore runway that minimizes land use, and architecture reflecting Balinese culture. The surrounding zone is slated to become an “aerotropolis,” complete with housing, schools, hospitals and infrastructure for residents as well as travellers.
If timelines hold, flights could start landing in North Bali by 2027, giving visitors a faster, calmer welcome and a fresh side of the island to explore.
Sources: escape.com.au, dijiwasancturies.com
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