Binaka Airport

Binaka Airport (IATA: GNS, ICAO: WIMB) is a domestic airport serving Gunungsitoli, the largest city and economic center of Nias Island in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Although it primarily serves Gunungsitoli, the airport is located outside the city limits, in Gidö, Nias Regency, approximately 16 km (9.9 miles) from the city center. It is the only airport on the island and serves as the main point of entry to both Gunungsitoli and the wider Nias region. The airport offers regular flights to Medan, the provincial capital of North Sumatra, and also provides rural connections to destinations such as Parapat near Lake Toba and the Batu Islands. In the past, it also had direct flights to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, and Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, though these routes have since been discontinued. History The idea of building an airport in Nias was initiated by Dalihuku Mendröfa, commonly known as Dalimend, who was serving as both the regent of Nias and an active officer in the Indonesian Air Force at the time. He actively lobbied the Ministry of Transportation to support the project, believing that an airport would help break the island’s isolation, promote modernization, and boost tourism development in Nias, which had been declared a national tourism destination by Vice President Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX in 1974. Construction began in 1976 and was completed the following year. The airport was officially inaugurated in a ceremony attended by Dalimend and Emil Salim, the then Minister of Transportation. The inauguration also featured a parachute landing demonstration by personnel from the Indonesian Air Force’s Kopasgat unit, who jumped from a C-130 Hercules aircraft. It was the first such parachute display ever held in Nias. The airport primarily serves routes between Nias and mainland North Sumatra, such as Medan, with flights operated by Wings Air and, in the past, by Citilink and Garuda Indonesia. Susi Air also operates flights to smaller destinations like Parapat and Sibolga. On 15 November 2018, Garuda Indonesia launched a thrice-weekly direct flight between Jakarta and Gunungsitoli using a Bombardier CRJ-1000, eliminating the need for a transit in Medan. However, the route was discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 3 November 2021, Wings Air introduced a new thrice-weekly route connecting Gunungsitoli and Padang using an ATR-72 aircraft. This route was also short-lived. Efforts to reinstate direct flights to Jakarta are ongoing but have yet to materialize. The local Nias community has proposed renaming the airport Dalimend Airport, in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Dalihuku “Dalimend” Mendröfa, an Indonesian Air Force officer and former regent of Nias who first initiated the idea of its construction. However, any official name change requires approval from the central government. Due to the growing tourism industry in Nias and the increasing number of foreign visitors, there have been proposals to upgrade the airport to international status and open direct international routes to the island. In 2014, the Ministry of Transportation allocated 100 million rupiah to improve the airport’s infrastructure, including extending the runway from 1,800 meters to 2,250 meters. This upgrade was aimed at accommodating narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, in preparation for potential international flights from destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Singapore. Facilities and development The airport has a single passenger terminal covering an area of 5,571 square meters. In 2018, a minor renovation was undertaken to enhance the terminal's appearance and carry out refurbishments, with an estimated cost of approximately 5 billion rupiah. In addition, the airport has a 200-square-meter cargo terminal and a 400-square-meter administrative building. On the airside, the airport features a 2,250 m × 45 m runway, which was extended from its original size of 1,800 m × 30 m. It is capable of accommodating narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. Plans are in place to further extend the runway to 2,600 m × 60 m to accommodate larger aircraft; however, the project is currently facing delays due to land acquisition issues involving local residents. Approximately 3.8 billion rupiah has been allocated for the runway extension. In addition, the airport is equipped with two taxiways, each measuring 70 m × 23 m, and a single apron measuring 180 m × 80 m. Airlines and destinations The following destinations are served from Binaka Airport: Traffic and statistics Traffic Statistics Gallery Accidents and incidents On 12 January 2013, a Wings Air ATR 72-500 operating a flight from Medan to Gunungsitoli experienced a tire burst upon landing at Binaka Airport. Although no injuries were reported among the occupants, the incident led to the temporary closure of the runway for several hours. References