Does Bintan have an airport? Meet Bintan Airport (TNJ)

Yes. Bintan Island's airport is Raja Haji Fisabilillah International Airport, which most travellers simply call Bintan airport, Bintan island airport or Tanjung Pinang airport. It serves Tanjungpinang, the capital of Indonesia's Riau Islands Province, and the rest of Bintan Island, which lies just south of Singapore across the Singapore Strait.

The airport's IATA code is TNJ, which is why searches for "TNJ airport" and "Bintan airport code" lead here. The ICAO code is WIDN, used in flight planning and air traffic control. Before it took its present name the airfield was known as Kijang Airport, and you may still see that older name on some maps and in some booking systems.

The airport is named after Raja Haji Fisabilillah, an eighteenth-century Bugis-Malay leader of the Riau region who fought against Dutch colonial forces and is honoured as a National Hero of Indonesia. His memory is strong in Tanjungpinang, where a monument in the city centre also bears his name.

Where is Bintan Airport? Location in Tanjung Pinang

Bintan Airport sits within the city of Tanjungpinang, in the Tanjungpinang Timur (East Tanjungpinang) district on the southwestern side of Bintan Island. It is a short drive from the city centre, the Sri Bintan Pura ferry terminal and the old waterfront, which makes it convenient for anyone visiting Tanjungpinang itself.

The airport is much further from the resort area of Lagoi on Bintan's northern coast, where most of the island's large beach resorts are found. Reaching Lagoi from TNJ means crossing most of the island by road, a journey that takes well over an hour. Keep this in mind when choosing between flying into Bintan and taking a ferry, as explained below.

Bintan and Batam: two different airports

Bintan and neighbouring Batam are separate islands with separate airports. Batam is served by Hang Nadim Airport, a larger airport with a wider flight network. If a search for flights to Bintan shows Batam, remember that you would still need a ferry between the two islands to reach Bintan.

Flights to Bintan: airlines and routes at TNJ

Scheduled flights at Bintan Airport focus on the domestic link with Jakarta. Citilink and Batik Air fly between Tanjungpinang and Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, and the flight takes around an hour and a half. From Jakarta, travellers can connect to many other cities across Indonesia and abroad.

Small subsidised pioneer flights also connect Tanjungpinang with remote islands in the Riau Islands Province, such as Dabo on Singkep and Letung in the Anambas Islands. These use small aircraft, run only on certain days and are mainly used by local residents.

Is Bintan Airport international?

The airport carries the name Raja Haji Fisabilillah International Airport, and it is designated as an international immigration checkpoint. Regular scheduled service, however, is domestic. International visitors reach Bintan mostly by sea rather than by air, so if you are coming from abroad, check the latest routes on Traveloka before you plan around a direct flight.

Getting to Bintan from Singapore: ferry or flight

For many international visitors, the question is not only which airport to use but whether to fly at all. Bintan lies very close to Singapore, and fast passenger ferries cross the strait every day. There are two main arrival points on Bintan:

• Sri Bintan Pura Ferry Terminal in Tanjungpinang, which suits visitors staying in the city, visiting Penyengat Island or catching a flight from TNJ.
• Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal in the Lagoi resort area on the north coast, which suits guests of the beach resorts.

Ferries to both terminals leave from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore, and a shuttle links Tanah Merah with Singapore Changi Airport. For travellers arriving from other countries, a common plan is to fly into Singapore and continue by ferry, or to fly into Jakarta and connect to TNJ.

Bintan Airport terminal and facilities

Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport has one runway and a single passenger terminal. All passengers, arriving and departing, use the same building, so the walk from check-in to the gate is short and it is hard to get lost.

As a regional airport, TNJ offers the basics rather than the range of a big hub: check-in counters, security screening, a departure lounge and a small choice of refreshments. Parking is available on site for those who drive or are being collected. If you have a long wait or need specific items, it helps to buy them in town before you head to the airport.

Getting from Bintan Airport to Tanjung Pinang and the resorts

Taxi

Taxis are the easiest way to leave Bintan Airport, and fixed-price taxis serve central Tanjungpinang. The ride into the city is short, while trips to other parts of the island cost more because of the distance. Agree on the destination clearly before you set off, especially if you are heading to a hotel outside the city.

Hotel transfers and private cars

If you are staying outside the city, ask your hotel or resort whether it can arrange a pick-up, or book a private car in advance. This is the most comfortable option for the long road journey from TNJ to Lagoi on the north coast, and it saves negotiating a fare on arrival after a flight.

Travel tips for Bintan Airport

• Arrive in good time. For a domestic flight from TNJ, aim to be at the airport about two hours before departure. The terminal is compact, but check-in closes well before the flight.
• Carry valid ID. Indonesian residents need their ID card, and foreign visitors need their passport, at check-in and boarding.
• Plan connections through Jakarta carefully. If you are connecting at Soekarno-Hatta to another flight, leave a comfortable gap, especially if your flights are on separate tickets.
• Watch the weather. Bintan has a tropical climate with heavy showers at times, and storms can briefly delay flights and ferries.
• Choose the right gateway. Staying in Lagoi? A ferry to Bandar Bentan Telani is usually far closer than flying into TNJ. Staying in Tanjungpinang? The airport and the Sri Bintan Pura ferry terminal are both handy.

Things to do near Tanjung Pinang and Bintan

Tanjungpinang is a relaxed port city with a rich Malay and Chinese heritage. A short boat ride from the waterfront takes you to Penyengat Island, once a seat of the Riau-Lingga sultanate, known for its historic yellow mosque and royal tombs. Back in town, the waterfront and the streets around the ferry terminal are good for an unhurried walk before or after a crossing.

East of the city, Trikora Beach offers long stretches of sand and a quieter pace. In the north, the Lagoi resort area has beach resorts, golf courses and water sports, and is where many visitors spend their whole stay. Local food is another highlight, with seafood, noodle dishes and Malay snacks sold around the markets and waterfront of Tanjungpinang.

Planning a trip to Bintan? Compare flights to Tanjung Pinang on Traveloka and set a Price Alert so you know when fares change.