Aviation history of Samarinda

In 1973, the story of Temindung expansion began. The location of Temindung belonged to Pertamina (Pelita Air Service) and the government, who owned the land. It became a small airport for the government.

In 1974 the passenger terminal was completed, and Temindung became a domestic airport, renamed Samarinda Airport. But it remains popularly known as Temindung Airport.

At that time, the airlines operating from the airport were:

• Georgia P. I.
• MAF Borneo
• IAT
• Bouraq Indonesia Airlines
• Avedeco
• ATA Borneo
• Merpati Nusantara Airlines
• Pelita Air^[6]

Temindung was taking on more flights than it could handle,^[7] and buildings had spread to within spitting distance of the runway.^[8][9] It was decided to look for a new area, which is away from the congested Samarinda central area.^[8] In 2005, construction of the brand new airport began at Sungai Siring, 16 km to the north of Temindung.^[10]

At 15:36 on May 23, 2018, the city's main air hub closed its doors, moving services to the new Samarinda International Airport in the morning of the following day,^[11] characterised by wingspanned curve roof and solar-powered rooftops. In 2019, Samarinda International Airport handled some 1 million travellers.^[12]