Kualanamu International Airport

Kualanamu International Airport         IATA Code:KNO      ICAO Code:WIMM      WMO Code:96035  
in Medan City, North Sumatra, Indonesia. That is what we are talking about! A fairly new airport (2013) but already old compared to Mactan T2 (2018). Let me share with you my experience/s in this airport.

Of course let us not forget my arrival experience from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia yesterday. Then, let me just add the scenes encountered today, this morning (Domestic Flight) on a departure to Banda Aceh.

Let's go sago!

This was the last picture I posted in the previous article - at the Kualanamu Check-in counters!

I noticed it was only Lion Air that had such a crowd at such an early hour. Well, it was easy to decipher why. Their counters only have: All Domestic Check-in, and another set for All International Check-in.

First time I encountered such an overly generic or overly homogenized grouping at a check-in counter. Naturally, all those old men and women who do not anymore sleep (yes merong ganun) whose flights were still in the afternoon, were also lined-up, even scrimmaging with the rest of us flying at 7:45AM!

Ginoo ko!

Yet, other than the weird Lion Air counters, everywhere else in the check-in hall was quiet and orderly.

I sighed with a breath of relief saying "buti naang, because I really find this airport a cut above many"!

Not sure, but I felt like this airport is about as big as CEB T2, though there are more check-in counters here, and I'm almost sure, there are more domestic and international flights out of Cebu than this city.

Oh, like many other airports, or even like MNL T3, spaces around the check-in area is open to public.

That means, after check-in, you can still rejoin your well-wishers (yung mga naghatid sayo), although I observed, they don't come in battalions here! Unlike sa atin, isa lang ang aalis, isang bayan ang sunod ng sunod, palakadlakad, para bang naghahanda ng umaalingangaw na final ngawa sa iyong paglisan.

Walang ganun dito. Meron lang 'a few'... hindi yung tipong magkakatrapik at kakailanganin ng tanod!

See the fences? Those are 'passenger only' barriers. Left side for domestic passengers, right side for international passengers, middle for those who need more assistance - such as PWDs and the elderly.

Just an escalator ride down and you can happily stroll the pre-departure area, duty free shops. etc.

If you will remember I already admired the carpet in this airport, as soon as I arrived. But I was doubly happy watching those two little birds having a time of their lives with passengers near the gate areas!

Until my flight's boarding time was finally called...

Not boarding via the Gate 7 Aerobridge. We were asked to follow a staff to the end... (Gate 8?)

Aruuu! Nga manunulay, asya gad hahaha! O sya sya sige go!

We have already covered that topic in previous stories, right? That many budget airlines on earth, don't use aiport facilities like aerobridges, to save money (i.e. remote parking is cheaper than gate parking).

Ahh anyway, this is still the best provincial airport I have been to, so far!

Kualanamu International Airport, as I sad earlier, replaced Polonia International Airport in 2013 which was deemed already impractical and unsafe for continued commercial use due to its proximity to the city's commercial and residential establishments. With no room for expansion, it was converted into a military camp, now called Soewondo Air Force Base. Mas ok satin, ang lumang runway nagiging mall!

More stories coming!

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