Iskandar Airport

Iskandar Airport was originally constructed by the Dutch colonial government prior to the Pacific Theater of World War II, in anticipation of a potential Japanese invasion. It served as an airbase for the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force (ML-KNIL). Along with Oelin Airbase in Banjarmasin (now Syamsudin Noor Airport), it was one of two key strategic targets for the Japanese forces, as control of these bases would enable them to launch air attacks on Java—an essential part of their plan to neutralize Allied air power before their offensive on the island.{{Cite book |url=http://oapen.org/search?identifier=1001546 |title=The Operations of the Navy in the Dutch East Indies and the Bay of Bengal |date=2018-09-24 |publisher=Leiden University Press |isbn=978-90-8728-280-6 |editor-last=Remmelink |editor-first=Willem |doi=10.24415/9789087282806}} In January 1942, anticipating the possibility of the base falling into enemy hands, the Dutch dispatched reinforcements to defend it. However, the defending forces were poorly equipped and consisted of troops from various units. Only ten brigades were stationed at the base, each comprising 18 soldiers, and the available air defense was limited to just two Lewis guns.Nortier, J.J (1980). De bezetting van Bandjermasin in februari 1942. Militaire Spectator, 151-2. Retrieved from https://www.kvbk.nl/sites/default/files/bestanden/uitgaven/1982/1982-0073-01-0022.PDF Following the fall of Banjarmasin in February 1942, the remaining units at Kotawaringin Airfield were reinforced by the British Indian Army’s 2/15 Punjab Battalion, led by Lt. Col. M.C. Lane, who had arrived exhausted after a retreat from Miri and Kuching. On 24 February, a supply ship reached the airfield to deliver much-needed food and provisions. Despite these efforts, the Japanese forces eventually reached Kotawaringin in late March or early April and overcame the defenders. The base remained under Japanese occupation for three years until their surrender in 1945. It was subsequently reoccupied by Dutch colonial authorities.

On 17 October 1947, during the Indonesian National Revolution, a group of Indonesian Air Force commandos—composed of native Kalimantan soldiers and led by Tjilik Riwut—parachuted into Kotawaringin. Their mission was to seize control of the Kotawaringin Airfield in Pangkalan Bun and to establish a transmitter to broadcast the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence.{{Cite web |last=Hidayat |first=Mohammad Arief Hidayat |last2=Permadi |first2=Eka |date=2015-01-10 |title=Sejarah Heroik Lanud Iskandar, Saksi Bisu Tragedi AirAsia |url=https://www.viva.co.id/berita/nasional/576839-sejarah-heroik-lanud-iskandar-saksi-bisu-tragedi-airasia |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=www.viva.co.id |language=id}} This marked the first parachute operation in the history of the Indonesian Air Force. The mission was initiated under the orders of Air Force Commander Soerjadi Soerjadarma and the Governor of Kalimantan, Mohammad Noor. It later became the foundational event for the formation of Kopasgat, the Indonesian Air Force’s special forces unit. However, the operation ultimately ended in failure. After a month of guerrilla warfare, most of the commandos were either killed or captured by Dutch forces. Among those killed was Iskandar, a native of Sampit, who died in a shootout with Dutch troops on 23 November.{{Cite web |last=Matanasi |first=Petrik |date=2018-07-27 |title=Operasi Terjun Payung Pertama demi Eksistensi Republik Indonesia |url=https://tirto.id/operasi-terjun-payung-pertama-demi-eksistensi-republik-indonesia-cPY4 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=tirto.id |language=id}} His name was later honored in the naming of the airport after the end of the war.

Following Indonesia’s independence, the airfield was transferred to the Indonesian Air Force and integrated into Air Force Operations Command II (Koopsau II) as a Type-C base. As such, it primarily served as a forward operating base to support military operations during emergencies or potential conflicts. In the 1970s, West Kotawaringin Regency began to see significant development. With this growth came an increasing demand for faster and more efficient air transportation to support the region’s social and economic activities. Until then, residents had relied almost exclusively on sea transport for inter-island travel, including routes to Jakarta. To address this need, part of the airfield was converted in 1970 for civilian use. Commercial flights began operating from the airstrip, and the government formally designated a section of the base as a civilian airport. Although traffic remained modest, several airlines began including Pangkalan Bun in their flight routes.

Iskandar Airport served as one of the key operational centers during the search and recovery efforts following the crash of Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 on 28 December 2014 in the nearby Karimata Strait, off the coast of Pangkalan Bun. Shortly after the crash, the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) established a command post at the airport to coordinate the search operations.Indra Harsaputra and Wahyoe Boediwardhana, '[http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/31/hope-fades-debris-found.html Hope fades as debris found'], The Jakarta Post, 31 December 2014. Once the crash was confirmed, Indonesian authorities prepared over 160 coffins in Pangkalan Bun in accordance with local customs, which emphasize the prompt and respectful handling of the deceased.'[http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/31/six-airasia-bodies-recovered-says-basarnas.html Six AirAsia bodies recovered, says Basarnas'], The Jakarta Post, 31 December 2014. After initial reception and identification procedures in Pangkalan Bun, the bodies were to be transported to Surabaya, East Java—the flight's point of origin—so they could be returned to their families.'[http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/31/two-bodies-airasia-victims-arrive-surabaya.html Two bodies of AirAsia victims arrive in Surabaya'], The Jakarta Post, 31 December 2014.

The airport covers a total area of 3,000.6 hectares, although only 200 hectares are currently utilized; the rest remains forested land. The passenger terminal spans 3,500 square meters and is designed in the traditional Kotawaringin Malay architectural style. A separate cargo terminal occupies an area of 516 square meters.{{Cite web |last=Prabowo |first=Dani |date=10 January 2015 |title=Lanud Iskandar, Landasan TNI AU Terluas nan Bersejarah yang Tak Banyak Dikenal |url=https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2015/01/10/06180071/Lanud.Iskandar.Landasan.TNI.AU.Terluas.nan.Bersejarah.yang.Tak.Banyak.Dikenal?page=all#page2 |website=Kompas |language=id}} The runway measures 2,120 by 45 meters (6,955 ft × 148 ft), allowing it to accommodate narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. The airport also features two taxiways, each measuring 87 by 23 meters, and an apron measuring 300 by 77.5 meters, capable of handling multiple narrow-body aircraft simultaneously.{{Cite web |last=Harmoko |first=Slamet |date=2024-01-07 |title=Landasan Pacu Bandara Iskandar Pangkalan Bun Diperkuat Tahun Ini |url=https://www.radarsampit.com/berita/landasan-pacu-bandara-iskandar-pangkalan-bun-diperkuat-tahun-ini.html |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Radar Sampit |language=id-ID}}

To accommodate the growing number of passengers and tourists traveling to the Tanjung Puting National Park, plans are underway for the development of the airport. Future plans include extending the runway to 2,500 meters to accommodate larger aircraft and enhance the airport's cargo capacity. Furthermore, a new passenger terminal is being planned, with funding allocated by the central government. Construction of the terminal is anticipated to begin in 2025.{{Cite web |last=Rayyan |first=Raffi |date=2 March 2025 |title=Runway Bandara Iskandar Pangkalan Bun bakal Diperpanjang Menjadi 2.500 Meter |url=https://kobar.inews.id/read/563905/runway-bandara-iskandar-pangkalan-bun-bakal-diperpanjang-menjadi-2500-meter |website=iNews Kobar |language=id}}

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| Batik Air | Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta,{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C2zPSZ8Mn9m/ | title=Instagram }} Semarang,{{cite news|url=https://pressrelease.kontan.co.id/news/batik-air-ajak-explore-di-indonesi-aaja-dengan-rute-baru-semarang-pangkalan-bun |title=Batik Air Ajak Explore di Indonesi Aja dengan Rute Baru Semarang - Pangkalan Bun |last=|first=|website=KONTAN.CO.ID|publisher=|location=|access-date=2024-05-15}} Surabaya{{Cite web |title=Batik Air Layani Penerbangan di Kobar Mulai Februari 2024 |url=https://www.borneonews.co.id/berita/328433-batik-air-layani-penerbangan-di-kobar-mulai-februari-2024 |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=www.borneonews.co.id |language=id}}

| NAM Air | Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta, Semarang, Surabaya}}

File:IskandarAirport5.jpg Airbus A320s and a NAM Air Boeing 737-500]]

File:IskandarAirport4.jpg|Check-in area

File:IskandarAirport3.jpg|Boarding gate

File:IskandarAirport2.jpg|Baggage claim area

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Category:Airports in Central Kalimantan

Category:Indonesian Air Force bases