UPG airport: the code for Makassar

UPG is the IATA code of Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, the main airport of Makassar on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. If you have seen UPG on a ticket, a flight board or a baggage tag and wondered which airport it is, this is the one. In Indonesian the airport is called Bandar Udara Internasional Sultan Hasanuddin, often shortened to Bandara Sultan Hasanuddin.

The airport also has an ICAO code, WAAA, which pilots and air traffic controllers use. Travellers only need to remember UPG. Whether you search "UPG airport", "UPG Indonesia", "airport code UPG" or "Makassar airport code", the answer is the same.

Why is the Makassar airport code UPG?

The code comes from Ujung Pandang, the name Makassar officially carried for part of the twentieth century. The airport code was assigned while the city went by that name. When the city returned to the name Makassar, the airport simply kept UPG. That is why some people still search for "Ujung Pandang airport" or "Ujung Pandang airport code". Both lead to the same place.

The airport itself is named after Sultan Hasanuddin, a seventeenth-century ruler of the Gowa Sultanate in South Sulawesi.

Where Sultan Hasanuddin Airport is

Although it is known as Makassar's airport, Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport actually sits in Maros Regency, just outside the Makassar city boundary. It lies roughly 20 km north-east of central Makassar.

The airport is linked to the city by a toll road as well as the regular highway. A cluster of hotels stands within a few kilometres of the terminal along the Makassar to Maros corridor, which is useful for travellers with an early flight or a long layover.

If someone is meeting you, agree on a pick-up point in the arrivals area in advance, because the terminal is large and the kerb can be busy when several flights land together.

The location also puts the airport close to some of the best natural sights of South Sulawesi. The karst country of Maros begins just to the north, so you can reach some attractions without going into Makassar first.

Airlines and routes at UPG airport

Sultan Hasanuddin is the aviation gateway for South Sulawesi, handling both domestic and international flights.

Domestic flights

Indonesian carriers operating at UPG include Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, Batik Air and Citilink. Between them they link Makassar with cities across the archipelago, and the big domestic hubs make onward connections easy.

International flights

The airport also has international services to Malaysia and Singapore:

• Kuala Lumpur, served by AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines
• Singapore, served by Scoot

These routes make UPG a practical entry point to Sulawesi for travellers from Southeast Asia, with onward connections from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to the rest of the world.

The terminal at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport

The passenger terminal at Sultan Hasanuddin has been expanded, which added space on the domestic side of the building along with a parking structure and improved access roads.

Domestic and international flights have separate areas within the terminal. International passengers pass through immigration and customs, while domestic travellers go straight from check-in and security to their gates.

As at other large Indonesian airports, expect food outlets, shops and waiting areas in the departure halls. If you have particular needs, such as a lounge or assistance for reduced mobility, check with your airline before travel so it can be arranged.

Getting to and from UPG airport

DAMRI airport bus

DAMRI, Indonesia's state bus company, runs buses between Sultan Hasanuddin Airport and Makassar. It is the main public transport option into the city and a good budget choice if you are not carrying too much luggage.

DAMRI also operates a long-distance service from the airport to Tanjung Bira in Bulukumba Regency, a beach and ferry port destination in the far south of the province. That route passes through Makassar and the southern regencies on the way, so it can save a change of vehicle for travellers heading straight to the coast.

Taxi and private car

Taxis and private cars are the most flexible way to reach hotels in Makassar or Maros. Drivers can use either the toll road or the regular highway, and it pays to allow extra time at rush hour.

Tips for flying from Makassar

Allow time for the road

The airport is about 20 km from central Makassar, and city traffic can be heavy at rush hour. Leave enough time to reach the terminal before your airline's check-in closes, especially on weekends and holidays.

International departures

For flights to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, arrive earlier than for a domestic flight. You will need to clear immigration, and your passport should meet the entry rules of your destination and any transit country.

Check the right airport code when booking

Booking systems list Makassar under the code UPG. When you search for flights to Makassar, look for UPG to make sure you land at Sultan Hasanuddin.

Weather

Makassar has a tropical climate with a pronounced rainy season. Heavy downpours can slow traffic on the way to the airport, so leave a margin during wet months.

Exploring Makassar and South Sulawesi

Makassar is a lively port city and a good base for exploring South Sulawesi. Highlights include:

• Fort Rotterdam, a well-preserved seventeenth-century fort in the city centre that now houses a museum of South Sulawesi history and culture
• Losari Beach, the waterfront promenade where people gather at sunset and snack on local favourites such as pisang epe
• Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park in Maros, known for its waterfall, butterflies and karst landscapes
• Rammang-Rammang, a karst area in Maros with limestone towers and quiet river trips
• Tanjung Bira, a beach destination in the south of the province, reachable by the DAMRI route from the airport

Food is a big part of any visit. Makassar is famous across Indonesia for dishes such as coto Makassar and konro.

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