Sultan Babullah Airport

Sultan Babullah Airport
Bandar Udara Sultan Babullah
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Indonesia
OperatorDirectorate General of Civil Aviation
ServesTernate
LocationTernate, North Maluku, Indonesia
Time zoneWIT (UTC+09:00)
Elevation AMSL49 ft / 15 m
Coordinates0°49′55″N 127°22′50″E / 0.83194°N 127.38056°E / 0.83194; 127.38056
Map
TTE/WAEE is located in Halmahera
TTE/WAEE
TTE/WAEE
Location of airport in North Maluku / Indonesia
TTE/WAEE is located in Indonesia
TTE/WAEE
TTE/WAEE
TTE/WAEE (Indonesia)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
02/20 2,300 7,546 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
Passengers795,549 (Increase 6.96%)
Cargo (tonnes)7,772.96 (Increase 57.79%)
Aircraft movements9,120 (Decrease 3.61%)
Source: DGCA[1][2]

Sultan Babullah Airport (IATA: TTE, ICAO: WAEE) is a domestic airport serving the island city of Ternate, the largest urban center in North Maluku province, Indonesia. The airport is named after Sultan Babullah of Ternate, the seventh ruler of the Sultanate of Ternate, who resisted Portuguese colonization in the Moluccas during the 16th century and is recognized as a national hero of Indonesia. Located approximately 5 km (3.1 miles) from downtown Ternate, the airport is the largest and busiest in North Maluku and the second-busiest in the Maluku Islands after Pattimura Airport in Ambon. It serves as the main gateway to both the city and the wider North Maluku region. The airport operates flights to major Indonesian cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and Manado, and also functions as a hub for pioneer routes connecting remote towns and islands across North Maluku that are otherwise accessible only by air.

History

Sultan Babullah Airport in 2006. The former terminal can be seen on the far right

Sultan Babullah Airport was constructed in 1970 and inaugurated in 1971 by then Minister of Transportation, Frans Seda. The airport was built on the site of a former clove plantation and initially featured a runway measuring 1,100 m × 30 m.[3] In the early years of its operation in the 1970s, the airport was still considered a rural airstrip and served only pioneer routes to Ambon and Galela, operated by Merpati Nusantara Airlines using the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter.[4][5] In 1982, the airport was upgraded to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Fokker F27.[6] By the late 1980s, the airport was already connected to major cities in Eastern Indonesia such as Ambon and Manado, with flights operated by Merpati Nusantara Airlines.[7] Along with Pattimura Airport in Ambon, the airport was designated as one of the two main points of entry to what was then Maluku, prior to the creation of North Maluku province, from other parts of Indonesia.[8]

The airport has been the site of several demonstrations over the years, some of which have disrupted air traffic. On 18 January 2005, hundreds of nearby residents occupied the airport in protest over the government’s failure to pay land compensation related to its development.[9] The occupation ended after a representative of the protesters was flown to Jakarta to meet with officials from the Ministry of Transportation.[9] On 22 August 2007, the airport was again the site of a major demonstration that escalated into riots involving more than 1,000 people, linked to the North Maluku gubernatorial elections. Several police officers and protesters were injured, including four rioters who were shot by police.[10] In addition, due to its proximity to Mount Gamalama, an active volcano, the airport has been temporarily closed several times during eruptions.[11]

In 2008, Batavia Air launched the first direct flight between Jakarta and Ternate using a Boeing 737-300.[12] The service continued until 2013, when the airline ceased operations. The Jakarta–Ternate route was briefly taken over by Express Air, which operated Boeing 737-300 or Boeing 737-500 aircraft, though the service was also short lived.[13] Meanwhile, Garuda Indonesia launched its Jakarta–Ternate route in 2010 using a Boeing 737-300, initially with a stopover in Manado,[14] before later upgrading it to a direct service operated by the Boeing 737-800.[15]

In April 2017, ownership of the airport was transferred from the Ternate city government to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation under the Ministry of Transportation.[16]

To accommodate the anticipated growth of tourism in Ternate and North Maluku, plans are being considered to upgrade the airport to international status, along with the introduction of direct flights to destinations such as Australia and Japan.[17]

Facilities and development

In 2000, the government began developing supporting infrastructure at the airport, including extending the runway to 1,420 × 30 m.[18] Due to increasing air traffic demand, the runway was further extended in 2001 to 1,650 × 30 m, followed by another expansion in 2003 to 1,800 × 30 m, and again in 2005 to 2,000 × 30 m, alongside the construction of a new terminal. The runway was later extended to 2,300 × 45 m in 2014, which remains its current configuration.[18]

Currently, the airport has a single runway measuring 2,300 m × 45 m, allowing it to accommodate narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.[19] The runway is planned to be extended to up to 2,400 meters in the future.[20] The airport is also equipped with two aprons measuring 180 m × 90 m, as well as two taxiways measuring 110 m × 23 m and 95 m × 23 m, respectively.[16] The airport's apron is equipped with eight parking stands and two jet bridges connecting the terminal to the apron.[18] The airport also provides aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) facilities.[18]

Construction of a new terminal began in 2006 to address the overcapacity of the existing terminal amid rising passenger numbers, and was completed in 2013. The project had a total investment of up to Rp 92 billion, funded through the North Maluku provincial budget.[21] The new terminal covers an area of 9,600 m² and has the capacity to accommodate up to 400,000 passengers annually.[22] It was subsequently renovated in 2023 with a budget of Rp 41.2 billion funded by the Ministry of Transportation.[23] The former terminal, which covers an area of 2,100 m², is currently used as a cargo facility.[24] A cold storage facility is planned at the airport to support the growing export activities from Ternate.[25]

Airlines and destinations

Apron view
Check-in hall
Boarding gate
Baggage claim area

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Batik Air Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta[26]
Garuda Indonesia Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta[26]
Lion Air Makassar,[27] Surabaya[28]
Sriwijaya Air Makassar,[29] Manado[30]
Super Air Jet Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta[31][32]
Susi Air Buli,[33] Galela,[34] Gebe,[35] Mangole,[36] Sanana[36]
Trigana Air Sanana[37]
Wings Air Ambon,[38] Buli,[39] Kao,[40] Labuha,[41] Manado,[42] Morotai[41]

Statistics

Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics
Year
Passengers
handled
Passenger
% change
Cargo
(tonnes)
Cargo
% change
Aircraft
movements
Aircraft
% change
2006 202,072 Steady 100.43 Steady N/A Steady
2007 214,551 Increase 6.18 619.30 Increase 516.65 4,854 Steady
2008 198,080 Decrease 7.68 510.95 Decrease 17.50 4,070 Decrease 16.15
2009 292,054 Increase 47.44 578.48 Increase 13.22 6,884 Increase 69.14
2010 428,884 Increase 46.85 80.89 Decrease 86.02 8,798 Increase 27.80
2011 481,685 Increase 12.31 40.11 Decrease 50.41 9,088 Increase 3.30
2012 572,531 Increase 18.86 57.12 Increase 42.41 11,410 Increase 25.55
2013 540,988 Decrease 5.51 2,443.53 Increase 4177.89 10,707 Decrease 6.16
2014 510,340 Decrease 5.67 3,632.40 Increase 48.65 11,060 Increase 3.30
2015 605,547 Increase 18.66 3,315.78 Decrease 8.72 11,456 Increase 3.58
2016 756,353 Increase 24.90 2,397.26 Decrease 27.70 11,174 Decrease 2.46
2017 834,190 Increase 10.29 3,692.79 Increase 54.04 11,382 Increase 1.86
2018 912,320 Increase 9.37 4,158.27 Increase 12.61 11,458 Increase 0.67
2019 766,002 Decrease 16.04 3,313.10 Decrease 20.33 9,258 Decrease 19.20
2020 375,311 Decrease 51.00 3,355.62 Increase 1.28 5,090 Decrease 45.02
2021 373,333 Decrease 0.53 3,867.40 Increase 15.25 5,536 Increase 8.76
2022 621,440 Increase 66.46 4,886.17 Increase 26.34 8,708 Increase 57.30
2023 743,802 Increase 19.69 4,926.17 Increase 0.82 9,462 Increase 8.66
2024 795,549 Increase 6.96 7,772.96 Increase 57.79 9,120 Decrease 3.61
Source: DGCA, BPS[2][43]

References

  1. ^ "Sultan Babullah" (in Indonesian). Ministry of Transportation. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Statistik Transportasi Udara 2024". Statistics Indonesia. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  3. ^ "Sejarah Bandara". Sultan Babullah Airport (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  4. ^ Mimbar (in Indonesian). Departemen Dalam Negeri. 1976. p. 26.
  5. ^ Album pembangunan Indonesia masa Orde Baru (in Indonesian). Lembaga Publikasi Pendidikan, Kebudayaan dan Pembangunan Indonesia. 1978. p. 798.
  6. ^ Berita industri (in Indonesian). Humas, Departemen Perindustrian. 1982. p. 8.
  7. ^ Majalah Maesaan (in Indonesian) (4 ed.). Kantor Pemerintah Prop. Dati I Sulut di Jakarta. 1986. p. 23.
  8. ^ Indonesia membangun (in Indonesian). Dumas Sari Warna. 1988. p. 378.
  9. ^ a b Damopoli, Sawaludin (18 January 2005). "Ratusan Warga Ternate Menduduki Bandara Babullah". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  10. ^ "Police shoot four in airport riot - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  11. ^ Paat, Hence (3 August 2016). "Bandara Ternate ditutup karena aktivitas Gamalama meningkat". Antara News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  12. ^ "Batavia Air Terbang ke Ternate". KOMPAS (in Indonesian). 15 September 2008.
  13. ^ "Express Air Ambil Alih Batavia ke Ternate". investor.id (in Indonesian). 5 February 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  14. ^ ZRF, Angga Aliya (25 May 2010). "Garuda Buka Rute Jakarta-Ternate". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  15. ^ "Garuda Indonesia terbang setiap hari rute Ternate - Jakarta". Antara News (in Indonesian). 12 September 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  16. ^ a b "Berikut Perkembangan Pembangunan 8 Bandara Prioritas Jokowi". Kumparan (in Indonesian). 7 September 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  17. ^ Gabriel (28 March 2019). "Bandara Babullah Ternate Akan Layani Penerbangan Internasional". Deliknews.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  18. ^ a b c d Sagoro, Michael (2025). "Optimalisasi Jalur Embarkasi Dan Debarkasi Penumpang Di Terminal UPBU Sultan Babullah Ternate" (PDF). Laporan On The Job Training (OJT) (in Indonesian): 5.
  19. ^ Nushratu, Hana (1 December 2013). "Kemenhub Pastikan Kesiapan Bandara di Sultan Babullah Ternate". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  20. ^ Aminuddin, La Ode (13 August 2014). "Pemkot Ternate Kaji Usul Perluasan Bandara Babullah". Antara News Sultra (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  21. ^ Fatah, Abdul (5 August 2013). "Terminal Bandara Babullah Digunakan 20 September". ANTARA News Ambon (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  22. ^ Harazaki, Rochimawati (1 December 2023). "Bandara Sultan Babullah Ternate Jadi Pintu Masuk Perayaan Hari Nusantara 2023". Majalah Lintas (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  23. ^ "Belum Lama Dikerjakan Plafon Terminal Bandara Sultan Babullah Ternate Ambruk". KabarHalmahera.com (in Indonesian). 16 September 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  24. ^ Fatah, Abdul (13 October 2017). "Bandara Sultan Babullah akan Direvitalisasi - ANTARA News Ambon, Maluku". Antara News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  25. ^ Fatah, Abdul (11 September 2017). "Bandara Babullah Siapkan Fasilitas Dukung Aktivitas Ekspor - ANTARA News Ambon, Maluku". Antara News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  26. ^ a b Muthmainnah, Sitti (18 September 2025). "Daftar Harga Tiket Pesawat Ternate–Jakarta Sabtu 20 September 2025, Mulai Rp1,8 Juta". Tribunternate.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  27. ^ "Lion Air Flight from Babullah Airport to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport". www.airpaz.com.
  28. ^ "Lion Air Flight from Babullah Airport to Juanda International Airport". www.airpaz.com.
  29. ^ "Sriwijaya Air Returns to Flying to Berau, Connecting Connectivity to Makassar and Balikpapan". a-news.id. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  30. ^ "Sriwijaya Air Layani Rute Ternate-Manado, Tiket Dijual Mulai Rp749 Ribu". Radio Republik Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  31. ^ "Starting January 3, Super Air Jet Opens 3 New Routes: Ternate, Jayapura & Palu". travel.detik. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  32. ^ "Super Air Jet Opens New Routes to Ternate, Palu and Jayapura Starting January 3". papua.tribunnews. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  33. ^ "Angkutan Subsidi Perintis tahun 2026". Instagram. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  34. ^ "Aktivitas Penerbangan Perintis Susi Air di Bandara Gamarmalamo Galela Mulai Ramai Saat Ramadan". Indomalut.com (in Indonesian). 16 March 2026. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  35. ^ Sardi, Sansul (15 January 2020). "Pesawat Perintis Susi Air Kembali Layani Rute Penerbangan Wilayah Maluku Utara". Tribunternate.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  36. ^ a b "Rute Penerbangan Susi Air untuk Jalur Domestik". kumparan (in Indonesian). 18 September 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  37. ^ "Trigana Air Service Buka Penerbangan ke Sanana dan Ambon" (in Indonesian). Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  38. ^ "Penerbangan Wings Air rute Ternate-Ambon". antarafoto.com (in Indonesian). 26 September 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  39. ^ "INFORMASI MASKAPAI". agent.lionair.co.id. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  40. ^ "Wings Air Buka Rute Baru Ternate-Kao Tobelo". rri. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  41. ^ a b "Wings Air Tambah Frekuensi Terbang dari Ternate ke Morotai dan Labuha". mediasulut.co (in Indonesian). 7 June 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  42. ^ "Wings Air Buka Rute Ternate-Manado" (in Indonesian). VOI. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  43. ^ "Statistik Angkatan Udara 2019" (PDF). DGCA. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
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