New Airport in Medan
Last updated: November 20, 2013
Medan’s new Kuala Namu International Airport opens on 25 July 2013.
It will replace the overcrowded Polonia Airport (MES), which will close on the same date.
The Bare Essentials | To/From The New Airport | To/From Medan | Other Tips
The Bare Essentials
| Opening date: 25 July 2013 Airport code: KNO Location: 31km North-East |
Airport Bus: Yes Airport Train: Yes – more information Toll road: Under construction |
Travelling To/From The New Medan Airport
View Going to/from Medan in a larger map
Left to Right: Pinang Baris Bus Terminal, Medan City Fair Airport Bus Terminal, Medan Train Station, the old Polonia Airport, Amplas Bus Terminal, the new Kuala Namu Airport
Medan Airport is located in Deli Serdang Regency, north-east of the city.
Full details of public transport options to/from Kuala Namu are still to be confirmed, but it will be the first Indonesian airport with a rail link. There will also be airport buses; two likely destinations are the city’s main inter-city bus terminals: Pinang Baris in the west (destinations: Aceh, Bukit Lawang, Berastagi) and Amplas in the south (Lake Toba, Sibolga, Bukittinggi).
A toll road connecting the new airport to Medan and Tebing Tinggi is still under construction, and is due to be finished in late 2014. In the meantime, it is 31km to the airport from Central Medan, measured from the City Hall (near Medan Train Station). Google Maps estimates the journey to be 53 minutes. A taxi ride would be around Rp100 000 ($US10, € 8, £7). Fares from the airport are unconfirmed; it is likely that there will still be a pre-paid fixed price voucher system – not taxi meters – similar to those currently operating at Polonia Airport and Bali Airport.
UPDATE – November 2013
We have more information and a review of Railink – the name of the train between Medan and its Airport – here.
Travelling to/from Medan
| Destination City | Flights/Week |
| 1. Jakarta | 290 |
| 2. Penang (Georgetown) | 99 |
| 3. Kuala Lumpur | 74 |
| 4. Batam | 63 |
| =5. Banda Aceh | 42 |
| =5. Singapore | 42 |
| 7. Pekanbaru | 35 |
| 8. Bandung | 32 |
| 9. Nias (Gunung Sitoli) | 28 |
| 10. Padang | 21 |
Medan is the busiest airport in Sumatra, with almost 8 million passengers in 2012. It is often a transit point for visitors than a tourist destination itself, many either just stay one night continue their journey directly to more well-known attractions with smaller airports or no airport at all. By plane, these include e.g. diving hotspot Pulau Weh near Banda Aceh, famous surfing breaks in Nias and Mentawai Islands near Padang. Places acessible from Medan by bus are listed in the previous section.
Other Hints And Tips
Based on the previous experience of the new Lombok International Airport opened in 2011, here is some further advice:
- Indonesian airline booking systems are often slow to change.
Airlines might still use MES (Polonia) as the airport code after 25 July 2013, even though the flight is arriving at/departing from KNO (Kuala Namu). Airlines only changed the airport code on their website months after Lombok International Airport opened. - It is recommended you arrive before the minimum check-in time.
With the greater distance to travel and the potential for computer system breakdowns that come with a new airport, it is a good idea to allow additional time. - It is recommended passengers reconfirm their flight a few days before.
There may be some minor schedule adjustments, due to the different location making flights slightly longer/shorter. It is now possible to do this online with almost all of the larger airlines; here is a guide. For the one exception – Sriwijaya Air – departure times by using the online booking system, i.e. check the price for 1 ticket on the same flight that you’re on. Please note: it cannot be checked this way less than 3 days before departure, when tickets cannot be booked online. 
Airport Tax may change.
Currently it is Rp35 000 ($US3.50, € 2,50, £2.25) per person for domestic flights, and Rp75 000 ($US7.50, € 6, £5.50) per person for international flights. Airport Tax in Lombok didn’t increase, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t in Medan. If there is an increase, it cannot be more than airport tax in Jakarta: Rp40 000 for domestic, Rp150 000 for international.
As further information becomes available, this post will be updated.
In the meantime, if you have a question, please write it in the comment field below.
Or if you would like to enquire about a flight to/from Medan, please fill in this form.
223 Comments on “New Airport in Medan”
-
Hi Bruce,
To answer your questions:
1. There are no hotels near the airport. It would be better to take the airport train then stay at a hotel near Medan Railway Station. Guests of Grand Aston Medan and Hotel Aryaduta get discounted train tickets.
2. I know it’s possible to fly from Medan to Sibolga on Wings Air. According to Wikipedia, it’s also possible on some smaller airlines too, but this information may not be current/up to date.
-
Hi Krisan,
Buses to Berastagi depart from Pinang Baris bus terminal, but there is no airport bus to there.
The next best thing is the airport bus to Medan City Fair. Alternately, you could take the airport train to Medan Railway Station.
For both, you would need to take a taxi to Pinang Baris.
-
Yurni says:
Hi Chris,
I will travel to Medan on 30th November. Together with me are 3adult and 2 children. What is my doubt is how to get the transport from the KNO airport to my hotel as I only arrive at 1910hrs. Do the taxi will send us directly to the hotel or they will send us at the terminal and we need to take other transport to hotel? do they have MPV so that can fix 6 persons of us.
We plan to enjoy our holiday at funland Medan, can we take taxi from hotel and ask the taxi to funland or any others cheapest way to get there as we do not rent any supir there.
I have booked Seochi hotel and aryaduta. .it is both hotel are suitables for us to stay and easy to sight seeing.
Your kind assistance is highly appreciated.
-
Hi Yurni,
You can request an airport pick-up from your hotel. I know Hotel Aryaduta offers it, because they picked me up from Medan Airport when I stayed there. I ordered it by phone. It was a Kijang Innova, which can seat 7 people. Sorry, I don’t know if they offer this service at Soechi International Medan.
Hotel Aryaduta is also very close to the Medan Train Station. If the cost of airport pick-up is more than expected. You could take the new airport rail-link. Guests of Hotel Aryaduta get a discount for rail-link tickets.
-
Martijn says:
hey Chris,
really hope you can help me, i have different question. i was yesterday in Medan airport, everything went well i enjoyed my stay also my plane had a 5 hours delay. i loved the people who were working over there, they are very helpfully and honest friendly.
at the departure international flight and the tax free shop, i had very good contact with the people who work over there, but i lost there email address, is it possible that i call them or that u give them my email? they remember me, especially if you manage me name “Martin”
-
Hi Martin,
I might be able to look them up (either online or in the local telephone directory) if you can give me the name of the shop. I haven’t departed internationally from Medan, so I don’t know what’s there myself.
What was the name of the shop?
-
Anucha Surachaichingchit says:
Time -table from airport to Medan/both directions please.
-
Nida Khasanah says:
Dear sir,
Would you please explain about the transportation from Kuala Namu Airport to Parapat.. Actually i am confuse with the transportain. are there any Travel Agents which could pick us to Parapat directly from the Airport ??
Thanks -
Dear Nida Khasanah,
You can take the airport bus to Amplas bus terminal. There are many shared taxi operators near Amplas that can take you to Parapat; in the past, I have used “Raja Taksi”. Alternately, you can travel by bus from Amplas to Parapat.
-
Bernard says:
I must thank for the invaluable service he provides to trvellers. Syabus bro.
Allow me to share my experience to Samosir Island. I arrived at Kuala Namu on Dec 2 at 7.45 AM. I took the airport Damri Bus to Amplas Bus Terminal. It costs 10.000 Rp per passenger. The journey is about 1 hour. Again that will depend on the time and day of the week for gridlock is quite common on the Medan roads.
I took the Sejatera Bus to Parapat. There was a bus leaving at about 9.45 Am but it was non-Aircon. The Aircon bus departed at 11.00 am. Both services cost te same 37,500 Rp.
Te 4 hour journey mentioned is a myth. I arrived at Parapat at about 5.30 PM. Again this jorney could take longer on festive occasions as just about everyone in Medan wants to get out.I took a taxi on the return journey on Thursday. Nice Trans charged me Rp 75,000. I had 5 in my group. To charter a vehicle costs 450,000 Rp. At the Airport, some guys were asking 500,000 Rp. On hind sight, it would have been better to have taken the taki from the airport then the long hours and nasty cigarette smoke.
Nice Trans can be contacted at http://nice-trans.blogspot.com/
Budianto was my driver on the return. His is a pleasent guy with humour and lots of stories if you can speak Bahasa Indonesia or Malay.
-
sly says:
whats the distance from the new airport at medan to medan city ?
is there a train travelling from medan to danau Toba , whats the distance ?
for a family of 3 ,is it bettre to travel by train or taxi to danau toba
my kid is 4 years old
thanks ..hoping to hear some great news -
Hi Sly,
> whats the distance from the new airport at medan to medan city ?
34km
> is there a train travelling from medan to danau Toba , whats the distance ?
No, there are no trains to Danau Toba; the train line stops at Pematang Siantar. The train operates from Medan to Pematang Siantar operates once per day.
> for a family of 3 ,is it bettre to travel by train or taxi to danau toba
my kid is 4 years oldTaxi. There is now also a bus from Medan Airport to Pematang Siantar.
-
jacqueling says:
what number should i contact for lost luggage at kno airport with lion air?
-
Hi jacqueling,
The “Contact Us” page on the Lion Air website still lists the phone number for the old airport (Polonia): 061 7715 4449 or +62 61 7715 4449. Maybe it is still the same.
If not, try calling the general Lion Air customer care number in Jakarta: +62 21 633 8345.
-
David B. says:
I’ve read through all the posts here, and firstly, Chris, you’re doing an incredible job. Thank you.
I’m also going to Parapat from KNO next week when my flight arrives at 14h00. On another site I was advised to take an airport bus or taxi to the main highway in Tanjung Morawa and then flag down an AMPLAS-Parapat bus. Does this sound better than taking a bus/taxi all the way to AMPLAS? What would be a good type of bus to flag down so as not to stop every 20 seconds? There are busses running at that time (probably 15h30-16h), aren’t there? Thx again.
-
Hi David B,
Thank your for the compliments and enquiry.
In your situation, I think it would be best to take the airport bus to Pematang Siantar, not to Amplas. PS is 3/4 of the way to Parapat and the airport bus will run express to its destination. Here is a Google Map with the various destinations; the conventional Google Map flag is Tanjung Morawa, the other places are self-explanatory.
ViewJeanne Andrade says:
Hi Chris
Can you advise clearly how to get Pematang Siantar from KNO Apt ? I’ll be arrive at 19.55 local time and no have any idea what the bestest way to go since i heard from the new Apt will take hours to Pematang Siantar ?
Please kindly also inform me approxi rate for the transportation till get Pematang Siantarcheers
JeanneDear Jeanne,
It takes 3 hours to travel from anywhere in Medan to Pematang Siantar, not just from the airport.
The airport bus from Medan to Pematang Siantar might have stopped by then.
If it has, it would be easiest to take the airport rail-link to Medan city, stay 1 night at a nearby hotel then continue the journey to Pematang Siantar the following day. Buses leave all the time; there is also an economy class train called Siantar Ekspres departing at 14:27.
Ed says:
Is it possible to see arrivals/depatures of flghts at KNO.
Other airports in Indonesia can provide this info.
TIA,
Ed
Hi Ed,
Is it possible to see arrivals/depatures of flghts at KNO.
I presume you mean like this:
http://www.jakartaairportonline.com/flight-status-arrivals-departures
but for Medan Airport.To my knowledge, this information isn’t available, either officially or elsewhere. For international flights, you can just check the airline’s website. The Twitter feed has been out of action since 6 January.
Bruce says:
Hi there
I’m travelling with my wife, 5 kids and 2 other adults (quite a bunch!) from KL to Medan to catch an already booked Lion Air / Wings Air 10:20am flight from Medan to Sibolga.
We’re flying to Medan with Air Asia. I’m trying to work out which flight we should take in order to catch this 10:20am flight to Sibolga, given all 9 of us will need to collect our luggage, go through customs, get visas into Indonesia, and get to the right terminal for the flight. I have two options:
Dep KUL 0745 arr KNO 0735
OR
Dep KUL 0845 arr KNO 0845
If it was you, which would you choose? Obviously I’d prefer the later flight in terms of getting kids organised in the morning, but then I also don’t want to miss our flight to Sibolga!)
Also, should we get our visa into Indonesia beforehand, or is it reasonably straightforward to organise at the Medan airport?
Thanks
Bruce
jsm says:
Is it possible to see arrivals/depatures of flghts at KNO.
The flightstats website shows some flights, not all.
SF says:
Hi there.
I will be flying from Penang- Medan- Singapore. May I know if I can do internal transfer for different airline (without having to go out of the immigration and in again? My stopover time is 2 hours. Thanks for your help.
Hi SF,
You will need to clear immigration and customs, becayse you will have to pay airport tax (Rp75 000) for the flight to Singapore. The receipt for airport tax payment is a sticker that goes on your boarding pass; later, you cannot enter the departure lounge without it. You can only pay airport tax at the check-in counter or a specially marked booth, straight after check-in.
rana says:
Is there a Damri bus service from Kuala Namu airport direct to Tebing Tinggi? If no, what’s the alternative mode of transport? Or is there damri service from the airport to Kuala Pakam?
Hi Rana,
The new airport bus to Pematang Siantar would pass through Tebing Tinggi. I am not aware of any airport bus service to Kuala Pakam.
Hi Chris, thanks so much for the info. it’s very helpful.
Comment on “New Airport in Medan”.
Copyright Mau Ke Mana 2010-15
Terms & Conditions
The left baggage counter in this airport is not ready yet .Else for those flight cancellation cases like mine,twice,once claim to be because of technical problem and another cancellation for volcano eruption,I could have deposit my baggage at the counter ,go to town and happy for few hours and return for my evening flight.
On second cancellation,I was offered by a motorist to take me to town by his 2 wheel bike to and fro for X 00 rb.and he is willing to wait for me.Why not if I can help someone for a living and visit another place that I have not visited and also its cheaper than taking taxi twice.
I took up the offer and go to town on his bike with my slinging baggage.
This is not a good choice for many as one may face the risk of rain and dirt.After my tour in town,I ask him to send me to train station instead of airport ,pay him the full amount as promised ,and return with my 5th train ride,which is more comfortable.