Djalaluddin Airport

Djalaluddin Airport (IATA: GTO, ICAO: WAMG), formerly known as Tolotio Airport, is an airport in Gorontalo Regency, Gorontalo, Indonesia (IATA: GTO, ICAO: WAMG). It is located 30 km west of Gorontalo's city center. It is operated by the Ministry of Transportation. The airport is the main gateway to Gorontalo and is named after Djalaluddin Tantu, a colonel in the Indonesian Air Force from Gorontalo. He was killed during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation when his C-130 Hercules was shot down over Malaysia in 1964. Currently, the airport operates domestic flights to major cities in Sulawesi, such as Makassar and Manado, as well as to rural areas, along with direct flights to Jakarta. There are also proposals to upgrade the airport to international status by introducing routes to Malaysia and the Philippines. A new, significantly larger terminal began operations in May 2016, replacing the old and overcrowded one. The old terminal is now only used for Hajj Embarkation. History The first aircraft to land in Gorontalo was a Grumman HU-16 Albatross in 1955. At that time, a small airfield was constructed in Tolotio for military transport, aimed at uniting and defending Indonesia's territory. Following the completion of the airfield in 1956, a Douglas DC-3 made its inaugural landing at Tolotio Airport. Initially equipped with basic facilities, the airport was intended to serve as both a military airbase for the Indonesian Air Force and a commercial airport managed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. In 1974, the airport was renamed Djalaluddin Airport in honor of Indonesian Air Force pilot Djalaluddin Tantu, who had fallen in the line of duty. The renaming was proposed by the Armed Forces faction in the Gorontalo Regency parliament. Development The new two-story terminal building spans nearly 12,000 m2 (130,000 sq ft) with 2 aerobridges and can accommodate 2,500 passengers, replacing the old terminal, which had a capacity of only 250. Built between 2013 and 2015 with funding from the central government, the ground floor houses check-in counters, drop-off and baggage claim areas, as well as spaces for the public and staff. The second floor features a spacious waiting room, along with additional public and employee areas. The terminal includes various amenities, such as mosques on both floors, lactation rooms, escalators, elevators, toilets, and wheelchairs for passengers with disabilities or medical conditions. There are also two medium-sized lounges, a spacious smoking room, and four X-ray units—three for passengers and one for cargo. Additionally, the parking area has been expanded from 3,902 m2 (42,000 sq ft), which previously accommodated 150 cars, to 46,411 m2 (499,560 sq ft), allowing for over 1,000 vehicles. The airport is equipped with two airbridges and a newly constructed apron measuring 230 x 80 meters, enabling it to accommodate up to three Boeing 737 Next Generation and MAX aircraft, along with two ATR-72 planes. The airport's runway, currently 2,500 meters by 45 meters, was originally slated for an extension to 3,000 meters by 2019. However, as of 2022, the extension has yet to be realized. Airlines and destinations Passenger Notes: Traffic and statistics Traffic Statistics Ground transportation Bus Perum DAMRI operates airport shuttle buses that serve several destinations from Djalaluddin Airport. Taxi or car rent Various taxi and car rental services are provided by numerous service providers Gallery Incidents On 6 August 2013, Lion Air Flight 897 struck a cow during landing. The aircraft slipped sideways onto the grass. None of the 117 people on board were injured. Notes References