Kualanamu International Airport: Current Development toward Aerotropolis

Abstract

Nowadays, an airport is no only a place for passengers to come and go, but it plays a significant role in developing and driving the local economy. Realize or not, there will be urban areas that offer connectivity at the airport (aerotropolis), and each airport has different aerotropolis potential. This study aims to analyze changes occurring around Kualanamu International Airport during the pre-construction and post-construction of the airport in 2007 and 2013. Six of the seven criteria of the establishment of aerotropolis show positive results, including air traffic, connectivity, sustainable development, economic income, government support, and Demographics. Significant growth was seen in the added value of the industry, the size of the industrial area, and the increase in GDP per capita. The added value of the industry has an average growth of 99.72% per year from the previous only 1.4% per year, the total area of the industry increased to 780 hectares from the previous only 200 hectares, and the GRDP also more than doubled. The only criterion that has not shown a positive potential is the status of ownership and management by the private sector because until now there has been no partnership in managing Kualanamu International Airport. To realize the development of the concept of aerotropolis in this region, the role of government and stakeholders is needed, both for policies related to aerotopolis development, public-private partnership discourse, the form of partnership, the concession period, and its contribution to the area around the airport.