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”
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Hi Petra,
To answer your questions:
1. Most Indonesian airports don’t have any left luggage counters, for security reasons (i.e. so no one can deposit bags with bombs). It might be worth staying one night at a hotel in Medan so you have somewhere to dump your gear while you go to Lake Toba.
2. Shared taxi places e.g. Raja Taksi are also located at AMPLAS. If you don’t speak Indonesian, I would take a bus because you don’t have to arrange things.
3. Shared taxis drop you at the ferry terminal which is about 50 metres from the RT office in Parapat.
4. 4 hours is more normal
5. At that time of year, it is probably a good idea to book a hotel. Or you could stay 1 night in Medan instead (see #1).
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Petra says:
Hi Chris,
Thanks so much for the info! Very grateful!
After much consideration, I decided not to bring along the bulky gears. So, I’ll be heading straight to Parapat on 1 Jan 15. As my flight from Banda Aceh to Medan will arrive only at 2pm,
1) Will I be in time to catch the last ferry to Samosir on the day itself? I’ll be taking the bus from amplas
2) Or should I book a hotel in Parapat on 1 Jan to sleep for the night, then take the morning ferry to Samosir?
Thanks!
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Hi Petra,
1) Probably not, the ferries stop operating before 6pm.
2) Yes, I would do that.
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Hi Chris,
Quite unfortunately, many hotels near Parapat jetty are all fully booked due to the high season. Any advise what I could do with this situation?
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Hi Petra,
The next closest city on the way to Lake Toba is Pematang Siantar, at the end of the train line.
I have stayed at the Siantar Hotel – it is ok. There are also a few other choices, including one owned by palm oil king Martua Sitorus.
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Jorma says:
Hi
is there any options from Kuala Namu airport to Parapat at night? Our flight will be there at 2100 (9 pm) and we (2 persons) would not like to stay at Medan for a night. Or is it more convenient to stay the night in Medan?
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Hi Jorma,
Buses from Medan Airport to Parapat do not operate in the evening. You will need to stay at a hotel in Medan.
The last train on the rail link departs at 21:30, so you might need to take the DAMRI Airport Bus, or a taxi.
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Maksim says:
Hi Chris,
Do you have any information on buses from Medan to Bukit Lawang. When do they leave, from where and what are prices. Or maybe there is some other way to get there.
Thanks
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Hi Maksim,
Buses from Medan to Bukit Lawang leave from the Pinang Baris bus terminal in West Medan. (See the original post for a Google Map).
It takes 4 hours and buses leave about every half-hour – the usual schedule is “leave when full”. Previously, prices started at Rp10 000 (a bit under $US1) for an “economy class” bus (i.e. no air-conditioning) but it is probably more than that by now.
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Jaba says:
Hi Chris
Can you tell me how far is KNO Airport to Lake Toba and which is the fasters means of transport to take.Thanks
Jaba -
Darren Blades says:
We’re arriving at Medan at 10.30pm and are staying at Grand Aston City Hall Hotel. Can you please advise the best way to get to the hotel bearing in mind there will be 5 adults all carrying board bags etc?
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PERSE says:
Hi Chris
Our flight departure from KNO at 16:45 flight is on monday (Air Asia). Is it possible to catch the flight if we will leave from Bukit Lawang at the same day early mornig?. Or do we have to stay one night at Medan?
What time the earliest bus leave from Bukit Lawang to Medan? Is there a connection from Bukit Lawang to KNO??
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Hi Darren,
Normally, it would be easiest to take the airport train, but the last one departs too early, at 21:30.
I would contact your hotel and ask them how much for a transfer in a Kijang Innova. This has 7-seats and is the biggest passenger car that is common in Indonesia.
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Hi Perse,
It’s possible with an early morning bus. You would need to take 3 buses:
1. Bukit Lawang -> Pinang Baris
2. Pinang Baris -> Amplas
3. Amplas -> Medan Airport
Or you could take the airport bus from Plaza Medan Fair, which is closer to Pinang Baris.
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Thank you Chris
One more question
My plan is to visit Lake Toba and Bukit Lawang
I will be in Kuala Namu at 16:30 (Sat) and I would like to go to Parapat at the same day (Is it possible?) and later move to Bukit Lawang and then back to Kuala Namu. I have to be back at Kuala Naumu after one week on Monday (flight depart at 16:45)I try to avoid spending a night in Medan.
Question 1
Is it possible to go to Parapat at the same day (flight arrive at KNO at 16:45) public transportation or shared taxi is ok.
Question 2
Which way is better if trying to avoid Medan (first BL and after Lake Toba or first Lake Toba and after BL)-PERSE-
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Q1 Buses operate overnight from Medan to Padang via Parapat, so you should be able to go by bus. You would take the DAMRI Airport Bus to Amplas Bus Terminal, then find a bus there.
Q2 First LT and after BL for the reason in Q1.
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stefan says:
Just wondering what a 7 seater taxi (for 5 travellers) would cost from the airport to parapat if pre-booked.If we fly in at 1540 would it be cheaper to hire one then?
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Hi Stefan,
I strongly suspect that you’re not allowed to book a taxi from the airport to Parapat.
You can try, but if not, the next best thing to do would be:
1) Take the DAMRI airport bus to Amplas bus terminal
2) Walk to the nearby shared taxi operators’ offices and negotiate the fare for a shared taxi there. If they’re asking too much, you can walk back to the bus terminal and take a bus.
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Mokhzani says:
Hi.. Just wanna ask, how much is the cost for taxi from airport to permatangsiantar? I heard its IDR 50000. Is it per person or per taxi? Thanks
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chris says:
Query – what is the approx travel time to Medan city from the airport by road – in the evening at around 8pm?
And are there ANY hotels that are next to the airport that you could recommend? I am trying to avoid having to travel all the way into Medan city given that I’ve only got a 10 hour storp over in Medan.
many thanks
Chris
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Excluding the impact of traffic, it takes about 60 minutes.
There are no hotels within 10km of the airport. I suggest you consider the Medan Airport Rail-link and staying 1 night at a hotel near Medan Station
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Rajiv says:
Hi I would be visitng Medan on April 4. I would like to know if I can get Bus /Train from airport to Medan Raj Hotel.
regards
Rajiv -
Sally says:
Hi, is there any changes in airport tax for Medan? I travel by Jetstar flight and paid RP200,000 for airport tax. Normally is RP75,000. Is there any corruption? But I saw everyone paying the same amount… It seems different from what you have wrote as you states RP150,000 for Jakarta should be the most.
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Hi Sally,
No, it’s not corruption.
Rp75 000 is domestic airport tax at Medan Airport.
Rp200 000 is international airport tax at Medan Airport. This is the new rate at the airports of Medan, Surabaya and Bali.
We update the airport tax Google Map with the latest rates. More information
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Hannah B says:
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Arriving at the airport I’ve seen we can get a visa on arrival. What type of proof of onward travel is required? I do not have any proof of leaving Indonesia as I will be getting a ferry back to Singapore. Will this be a problem and if so how can I resolve it?
Many thanks
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Hi Hannah B,
Maybe you could show a ticket to Batam (closest island/port to Singapore), if asked.
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What is the nearest hotel to the airport please?
Comment on “New Airport in Medan”.
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Hello Chris,
Thanks for the advise! I have been reading your post and find them extremely helpful!
I’ll be flying from Banda Aceh to Medan (arrive at 2pm) and heading to Parapat on 1 Jan 15. I’ll be traveling solo.
With all my diving gears and bulky suitcase, I figured it might be better to share a taxi with other passengers? A few questions on my mind:
1. I read that KNO has no luggage deposit counters/ left luggage. Is there anyway where I could deposit my suitcase before heading to Parapat?
2. Would you recommend to share a taxi / take a bus from AMPLAS to Parapat?
3. How do I get a shared taxi & which part of Parapat does it drop me off?
4. I read reviews that the journey can take up to 8hrs. Is it true?
5. Is it advisable to book a guesthouse at Parapat on 1 Jan to sleep for the night and take a morning ferry to Samosir on 2 Jan 15?
My destination is Samosir.
Many thanks!