Nusantara International Airport, known by its ICAO code WALK, has technically been open since June 12, 2025. It has a 3,000-meter runway, one of the longest in Kalimantan, built to handle wide-body aircraft up to Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A380 size.

Why you still can't fly in on a normal ticket

The airport currently holds "Bandara Khusus" (Restricted Airport) status, meaning it's only allowed to serve state flights, government-agency flights, and charter or private aviation, not scheduled commercial flights open to the public. As of August 2026, Indonesia's Transportation Minister confirmed a draft Presidential Regulation (Perpres) to convert it into a public, commercial airport has been submitted, but no decision date has been set. Part of the delay is balancing air traffic between three airports close to each other in East Kalimantan: Samarinda's APT Pranoto, Balikpapan's Sepinggan, and IKN's own.

Where to actually fly into

For now, book your flight to Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport in Balikpapan (IATA: BPN). It handles both domestic and international commercial flights and remains the standard gateway for anyone visiting Nusantara. Samarinda's APT Pranoto Airport is a secondary option if you're coming from that side, though Balikpapan is the more commonly used route.

This could change

The regulatory change that would open IKN's own airport to commercial flights could be signed at any time. Check the latest news or the IKNOW app before assuming you still need to fly via Balikpapan.