IKN Will Have A Direct Flight From Sarawak, The Plane Was Brought In January 2026

Minister of Transportation Sarawak YB Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin while visiting IKN. (Photo: Doc. IKN Authority)

JAKARTA - The Nusantara Capital Authority (IKN) received a state visit from the Minister of Transportation of Sarawak YB Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, Wednesday, December 10. One of the things discussed at the meeting was the opportunity for cooperation in the transportation sector.

The Serawak Kingdom is preparing to launch a new airline for Air Borneo in January 2026.

The airline will connect Sarawak with a number of cities on Borneo Island, including opening a direct route to the archipelago.

Minister of Transportation Sarawak YB Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said that there is a great opportunity for collaboration between the archipelago and the Borneo region.

Moreover, he said, IKN will soon operate Nusantara International Airport as a commercial airport.

"We are on the same island on Borneo. We are very interested in the development of the archipelago, this is the future. Same in Borneo, we are proud that later the whole world will come to the archipelago," said Lee Kim Shin as quoted from the official website of IKN, Thursday, December 11.

Not only in the field of air transportation, Lee Kim Shin also mentioned his plans to develop cross-border railway lines that connect several countries on the island of Borneo.

"In addition to air transportation, we are also reviewing the construction of a railway line connecting three countries, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam," he said.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the IKN Authority, Bimo Adi Nursanthyasto, positively welcomed the plan and highlighted the importance of increasing regional connectivity.

"Soon Nusantara Airport will operate as a commercial airport. This will facilitate mobility from and to IKN. Not only air, if the three-nation cross-border railway line is realized, this will drive Southeast Asia's economy and show the strong world of regional economic dynamics," he explained.

On this occasion, both parties also discussed opportunities for collaboration in the health sector.

Sarawak with superior health facilities opens the possibility of cooperation with hospitals in the archipelago, including aspects of medical research that can strengthen each other's service capacity.

Kemudian pada sektor kebudayaan, Sarawak dan Nusantara yang memiliki akar budaya serumpun melihat peluang pengembangan program dan event budaya bersama pada masa mendatang, termasuk potensi penyelenggaraan kompetisi sumpit dan pertukaran budaya lainnya.

"Dengan semakin luasnya jejaring kolaborasi internasional, Nusantara kian menegaskan dirinya sebagai pusat pertumbuhan baru inklusif, berdaya saing tinggi dan siap menyambut dunia," imbuhnya.

Then in the cultural sector, Sarawak and Nusantara, which have cultural roots, they also see opportunities for developing programs and cultural events together in the future, including the potential for organizing competitions and other cultural exchanges.

"With the wider international collaboration network, Nusantara is increasingly asserting itself as a new center of inclusive growth, high competitiveness and ready to welcome the world," he added.