SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin (SMB) II Airport in Palembang, South Sumatra has regained its status as an international airport.

This is based on the results of the Ministry of Transportation Decree Number 26 of 2025 concerning SMB II Airport Palembang, H.A.S Hanandjoeddin Airport Bangka Belitung, and General Ahmad Yani Airport Semarang as international airports issued on April 25, 2025.

"With the results of this decision, it gives a sense of happiness, especially the people of South Sumatra who have been asking when international flights will reopen at SMB II Airport Palembang," said Executive General Manager of SMB II Airport Palembang, R Iwan Winaya.

They have also prepared three important aspects to support the implementation of regular international flights at SMB II Airport Palembang, namely the readiness of human resources (HR), operational procedures, and airport facilities.

"Currently we have prepared mitigation of the three things prepared earlier so that there are no issues. All can be done well and we are ready to carry out regular international flights," Iwan continued.

Iwan explained that international flights at SMB II Airport Palembang are actually not new, because the airport currently serves direct flights to Jeddah for Umrah purposes.

"This is not something new, because before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had already carried out regular international flights," Iwan said.

"However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, international flights at SMB II Airport Palembang have become limited because they only serve Umrah flights," he continued.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were various airlines that carried out regular international flights at SMB II Airport Palembang, such as Air Asia, Jetstar, Scoot, Lion Air, and Garuda Indonesia.

Air Asia, Jetstar, and Scoot serve two international flight routes, Palembang-Kuala Lumpur and Palembang-Singapore, with an average of three to four flights on weekends.

Meanwhile, Garuda Indonesia along with Lion Air serves Umrah flights from Palembang-Jeddah or the reverse by making two flights a week.

"We are currently waiting for the airlines to apply for international flight permits to the Directorate of Air Transport of the Ministry of Transportation. Then, we can give slot time to the airline," he concluded.