Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport Guide

Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport serves Balikpapan, the largest city in East Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo. The airport sits approximately 5 km from the Balikpapan city center and is named after Aji Muhammad Sulaiman, a 19th-century ruler of the Kutai Kertanegara Sultanate who played a central role in initiating oil exploration in the region. Domestic traffic dominates, with flights connecting Balikpapan to Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and dozens of other Indonesian cities.

The current 110,000 square meter terminal opened in September 2014, replacing the original facility that had become severely overcrowded. Designed for up to 10 million passengers annually, it features 11 jet bridges, 74 check-in counters, and 8 baggage carousels within a single building that handles both domestic and international passengers. In 2023, the airport handled just over 5.1 million passengers, a 44.9% increase from 2022.

BPN's strategic position has gained renewed significance with Indonesia's decision to relocate the national capital to Nusantara, a new city being developed in East Kalimantan approximately 100 km north of Balikpapan. International routes connect Balikpapan primarily to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Bandar Seri Begawan.