About Kualanamu International Airport

Kualanamu International Airport, code KNO, is the main airport for Medan and the province of North Sumatra, Indonesia. It opened in 2013, replacing the old Polonia airport, which sat in the middle of Medan and had little room to grow. Moving flights out of the city gave the region a much larger terminal and a runway able to take wide-body aircraft.

Location and Distance to Medan

Despite serving Medan, the airport is not in the city. It stands in Beringin district, Deli Serdang Regency, east of Medan. The straight-line distance is a little over 20 km, but the road trip is longer, and a drive to the city centre usually takes around an hour depending on traffic.

Terminal and Facilities at Kualanamu

A single large terminal handles both domestic and international flights, with separate gate areas for each. Inside you will find a wide spread of Indonesian restaurants, coffee shops and fast-food outlets, as well as ATMs, currency exchange and free Wi-Fi.

Airlines and Routes from Medan

Kualanamu is one of the key air hubs on Sumatra. Domestic carriers include Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air, Super Air Jet and Wings Air, with frequent links to Jakarta and routes across Sumatra and the rest of the country. Smaller regional airports in Aceh and North Sumatra also connect through Kualanamu.

International services link Medan with nearby cities, including Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore. Carriers on these routes include AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines. Seasonal pilgrimage flights to Saudi Arabia also operate at certain times of the year.

Getting from Kualanamu Airport to Medan

• Airport train: The Railink service runs between the airport station and Medan station in the city centre. It is usually the quickest option, taking well under an hour.
• Bus: DAMRI and other operators run buses to points in Medan and to other towns in North Sumatra, such as Pematang Siantar.
• Taxi and ride-hailing: Metered taxis and app-based cars are available around the clock. Use official counters or apps to avoid disputes over fares.

Places to Visit from Medan

In Medan itself, the yellow Maimun Palace and the Great Mosque of Medan are two well-known landmarks, and the city is famous across Indonesia for its food. Many travellers use Kualanamu as the starting point for Lake Toba, the vast volcanic lake south of the city, or for the cool highland town of Berastagi.

Tips for Flying from Kualanamu

Allow plenty of time to get to the airport, since road traffic out of Medan can be slow. The train is a reliable choice at busy hours. If you are heading to Lake Toba, plan for a long road journey after landing and try not to arrive too late in the day.

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