Incheon Airport to build infrastructure and operate Batam Hang Nadim Airport with Indonesian partner

Slowly but surely Indonesia is privatising some of its smaller airports.

Indonesia is a country where some foreign operators and investors are wary to tread for a variety of reasons. But with the Lombok Airport deal having attracted a large number of interested parties, the conclusion of a 25-year concession to operate, maintain and extend the Batam Hang Nadim Airport on the Riau Islands, close to Singapore, will give more hope to the two state airport operating companies that they can find more takers Especially where a local and largely state-owned minority partner can be found, as in this case.

That partner will provide engineering resources to the major one, Incheon International Airport Corporation.

On the surface, other reasons why the airport needs to be extended quite so quickly are hard to identify. It may signify a change in emphasis which seeks to put smaller regional airports like this that are advantageously located into a position where they can help relieve the pressure on the creaking Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

And that might be realistic, or fanciful.