All You Need to Know About Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) in Medan, Indonesia

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If you’re searching for information about Kualanamu Airport Medan, my best bet is you’re already planning to visit Medan. So, I just want to tell you this: welcome to my hometown!

Here’s a little bit of introduction and history about Medan’s Airport. Before 2013, Medan’s old airport, Polonia, was located right at the heart of Medan. However, the old airport was too small to serve 7.5 million passengers annually (it was designed to handle 900k passengers only), hence the new airport.

Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) was opened in 2013 and it’s located about 24km or 37km from Medan, depending on whether you take the toll or normal road. The normal road is about 24km but the road is narrow and traffic jam is common. In this post, I’m going to write about facilities of the airport as well as travel tips from the perspective of someone who calls Medan her hometown.

PS: As of mid 2022, a lot of shops are still closed. There are a few restaurants at Level 1 land-side (A&W and Solaris). Air-side, there are no restaurant at international departure gate, there are some restaurant at domestic departure gate. I didn’t notice any SIM card shop when I visited in mid-2022, you may need to buy SIM card at city. Train to Medan is still running.

Arriving at KNO

1. Arriving at KNO: From Plane to Arrival Hall

Most of the time, passengers arriving at KNO are able to walk directly into the building via the bridge. However, on rare occasion, passengers may be lucky to walk down the plane’s staircase and walk on the pavement to the arrival hall.

2. Arriving at KNO: Immigration

From my personal experience, the immigration is never crowded. I always only spend maximum of 15 minutes. Locals and foreigners line up in the centralized line. No need to worry about line cutting or lining up at the wrong line. Indonesia no longer requires visitors to fill up immigration form, but they do require custom declaration (see the next point).

PS: If you need to go to toilet, the toilet before immigration a good place for incoming passengers because not many people use it so it’s quite clean.

3. Arriving at KNO: Baggage Claim

After immigration, it is the baggage claim. Look for your baggage and make sure you have filled up the custom declaration. Usually, airline crews would distribute the form on the plane. However, if you didn’t receive any forms, don’t panic. They’re also available at the baggage claim area. If you bring any of the item listed in no 11, you need to proceed to red line where you might be required to pay for tax. Read about custom requirement here (the website is bilingual, you can choose either English or Indonesia).

PS: Don’t ever throw away your baggage tag that’s usually attached to your boarding pass. Officers may check your tag against the tag on your luggage.

4. Arriving at KNO: Baggage Scan

Once you have collected your baggage, submit the baggage form at the exit and then proceed to scan your baggage and exit to the arrival hall.

5. Arriving at KNO: Free Wifi

As with other major airports, KNO offers free wifi without having to sign up. The speed is pretty good. However, once you turn off your phone’s screen for several minutes, the connection drops.

6. Arriving at KNO: Arrival Hall

At the arrival hall (Level 1), you find change money at money changer, withdraw money from the ATM center, purchase sim card, purchase food from restaurant or convenience stores, or ask questions at the tourist information center. There are also left baggage and pharmacy at arrival hall.

7. Arriving at KNO: Local SIM Card

There is a Telkomsel store called GraPARI inside the arrival hall near the building entrance. They sold prepaid SIM Card which has been pre-loaded with certain amount of data and talktime. Don’t be too fast to make a purchase. First, ask them for their price and details. Then, walk outside of the building and turn right, there is another smaller kiosk that sells prepaid SIM Card too. Make a comparison between the products offered by the 2 stores before deciding which one you want to buy.

From my own experience, the store outside the building sells cheaper SIM Card than the one inside the building. However, products and prices change all the time. So, it’s best to ask directly from the two stores and make comparison.

As of April 2019, the store inside the building sells prepaid SIM Card with 10GB data, few hundreds minutes of international talktime and 14-day validity for IDR 170,000. Meanwhile, the store outside the building sells prepaid SIM Card with 1GB data (IDR 65,000), 4.5GB (IDR 100,000) and 10GB data (IDR 135,000).

2022 Update: The below shops are closed since corona time. I didn’t see any shops selling SIM card during my visit in mid-2022.

Departing from KNO

1. Departing from KNO: Entrance Gate Scan

You need to scan your luggage, bags and everything you’re carrying at the entrance gate. At this gate, non-flying visitors are allowed to enter. No checking of boarding pass will be conducted. I guess it’s more like a general safety screening procedure.

2. Departing from KNO: Check In

Now, it’s time for check-in! There are a couple of self check-in machines to speed things up. If you have luggage, it’s better to check-in at the counter.

3. Departing from KNO: Last Minute Shopping and Dining

At this moment, I presume that you’ve already done all of your souvenir shopping in the city where goods are cheaper and fresher. But… if you haven’t done enough shopping, you can do so at several souvenir shops at the airport. I’d recommend Bolu Meranti, Lapis Legit or Kue Ambon; all of which are cakes.

If you are hungry and you wish to eat something before your flight, you’ll be spoiled for choice. There are so many delicious local and international food. You can find several photos of restaurants in the “Food in KNO” section.

4. Departing from KNO: Departure Gate

So, you’re ready to fly. But, first, you need to go through a security screening at the Departure Gate. Here, non-flying people are not allowed to enter.

5. Departing from KNO: Movie Theater

Surprise! This humble airport has a FREE Movie Theater! It is hidden under the escalator, below security scanning. It is located just in front of Gate 6. I wasn’t aware of this theater even though I’ve flown though Kualanamu Airport for so many years! One day, I was walking slowly and this theater appeared right in front of my eyes. It took me only 7 years to notice this little corner.

I went in to take a look of the cinema. Well, it is a small theater with less than 15 seats, so it’s a first come, first served. There is no show schedule, basically visitors can choose the movie from the available CDs. If there’s another movie that’s being played, of course you need to wait for the current movie to finish before you can request them to play your choice of movie. To be honest, the options are not much.

6. Departing from KNO: Domestic Departure Hall

After clearing the security screening, take the escalator or ramp down. On your right is the domestic departure hall. There are 2 lounges here, BRI and Sapphire Bluesky. At the end of the corridor, there’s a rest area and a kid zone that not many people know about. As for food, there are not many choices here.

7. Departing from KNO: Immigration

If you’re taking international flights, proceed to immigration located before gate 4. Here, there’s another security screening that you need to go through. Water is not allowed, but don’t throw your empty bottle yet, you can refill it after the immigration.

8. International Departure Hall

Finally, you’ve arrived at the secluded part of the airport. Here, you can refill your water that the water cooler near the toilet. At the farthest end of the terminal is the Sapphire Mandai International Lounge. There are several shops here but nothing too fancy. And there is a smoking room just beside the immigration.

Getting from Airport to Medan

1. Getting from Airport to Medan: Railink Airport Train

This is the most popular method to travel between airport and Medan because it’s fast, safe, comfortable and not too expensive. It takes 42 to 45 mins from Airport to Medan.

It costs IDR 70k each way. Tickets can be purchased online in advance, or purchased over the counter. Sometimes there are promotions related to airline or credit card.

Read my full guide on the Kualanamu Airport Railink:

How to Travel Between Kualanamu Airport and Medan City by Airport Railink

The train station at the airport is located just in front of the arrival gate (Level 1). It’s only 1 min walk from airport entrance to train station. Based on my experience, tickets are rarely sold out, so if you’re afraid that your inbound flight got delayed, you can buy after you come out from the airport.

The train station in Medan (called “Medan Railway Station” in English, or “Stasiun Medan” in Bahasa Indonesia) is located at the heart of Medan. Centre Point Mall, one of the biggest malls in Medan, is just 5 min walk away from the train station.

To go to your hotel, you can book a Grab/Gojek from the station or from Centre Point Mall. Taxi is almost non-existent nowadays. If you do spot a taxi, make sure you take Blue Bird Taxi because it’s the trusted brand in Indonesia.

Railink airport train is my preferred transportation method when I’m traveling alone. However, if I’m traveling with my hubby, my preferred method is below.

2. Getting from Airport to Medan: Private Airport Transfer (Car)

Private airport transfer is my family’s favorite transportation method between airport and Medan. Why? Firstly, it picks us up from airport and sends us directly to home. Generally, it takes 45 minutes to 1 hour to travel from airport to Medan by car, and vice versa. Secondly, it’s way cheaper than taking the train if there are at least two persons.

Let’s compare. Two person taking the train = IDR 200k. From train station to hotel, it’s another at least IDR 20k. In total, it’s at least IDR 220k by train + taxi. A private airport transport costs between 150k to 250k (depends on the driver’s quote and car model).

Taking the train means at least 35 mins train journey, maybe 15 mins waiting time prior to boarding, 15 mins coming out from train and getting into a taxi, maybe 15 mins taxi journey. In total, it’s about 80 mins just to get from airport to Medan by train + taxi. My family and I usually spend 45 to 60 mins between airport and home. Less than 200k for a direct transfer sounds like a better deal for us.

If you are keen with this method to get to Medan city from the airport, I can assist you to arrange a private transfer with local drivers.

3. Getting from Airport to Medan: Public Bus

Taking public bus from airport to Medan is doable. It’s crazy cheap but also crazy long. Bus terminal at the airport is located on Level 1. After you exit the gate, turn right.

To get to Medan, take Damri bus and alight at Plaza Medan Fair (Carrefour). It costs about IDR 20k. From there, you can get taxi/Grab/Gojek to your hotel. The duration is approximately 1.5 hours to 2 hours, depending on the traffic condition.

If you’re not going to Medan, but instead, you’re going to Lake Toba or other big cities like Siantar, Tebing Tinggi, Kabanjahe, there are public buses or minivan that can bring you there directly from the airport. However, these buses/minivans will only depart when it’s full, so you need to be flexible in terms of timing. As of April 2019, the quoted fare from Kualanamu Airport to Parapat (Lake Toba) is IDR 90,000 per person in a 7-seater minivan.

4. Getting from Airport to Medan: Grab/Gojek

Uber is no longer around in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. Instead, there are 2 big ride-sharing companies in Indonesia at the moment: Grab (originally from Malaysia) and Gojek (from Indonesia). It is possible to take Grab/Gojek from airport to Medan and vice versa. If there’s no surcharge, Grab/Gojek is cheaper than taxi and private transfer. It’s a viable option to consider, however, the price may fluctuate due to demand and supply. So, use it at your own risk.

5. Getting from Airport to Medan: Taxi

Ah, taxi, the familiar sedan that we always know. Taxis run on meter so the final cost depends on the traffic condition (which is often bad in the city). I don’t personally recommend taxi as I trust the above options more, and they all less expensive than taxi. Again, it’s nice to know that in case you are in a rush, you can’t wait for the next train and you can’t get any Grab/Gojek, then you still have taxi as your backup plan.

Hotels near Kualanamu Airport

Your inbound flight arrives in Medan late at night and you dread making the long journey to Medan or Lake Toba in the dark. Your outbound flight will be leaving in the morning and you’re unsure if you can make it in time given the horrendous morning traffic in Medan. Consider staying at one of the hotels near airport. In fact there is 1 hotel right inside the airport and several others within 5 km from the airport.

1. Hotels near Kualanamu Airport: Horison Sky Kualanamu

Horison Sky Kualanamu is located at Level 1M of Kualanamu Airport building, so it’s extremely convenient for guests who have inbound late night flight or early morning outbound flight. Check latest price on Agoda and Booking.

Facilities: 24-hr reception desk, free wifi, buffet breakfast (check the terms&conditions of your hotel booking).

2. Hotels near Kualanamu Airport: Prime Plaza Hotel

Prime Plaza Hotel is a 4-star hotel located about 7 to 10 mins drive from Kualanamu Airport. If Horison Sky is fully-booked, or if you prefer a hotel with swimming pools, then I recommend Prime Plaza Hotel. Check latest price on Agoda and Booking.

The hotel provides free shuttle to/from airport. If the shuttle timing from the hotel doesn’t suit your flight timing, you can pay extra for private/shared car arrangement. From airport, you can simply get a taxi/Grab/Gojek.

There are some restaurants (local food, KFC, coffee place), Magic Eye 3D Art Museum, Hub Market (souvenir/convenience shop) opposite the hotel, but you need to cross the highway (there is a small road to cross under the highway, avoid crossing directly on the highway).

Facilities: free shuttle to/from airport, 24-hr reception desk, free wifi, buffet breakfast (check the terms&conditions of your hotel booking), swimming pool

3. Hotels near Kualanamu Airport: Wing Hotel

Located opposite Prime Plaza, Wing Hotel is also about 7 to 10 mins drive to the airport. It is a 3-star hotel and it’s cheaper than Horison and Prime Plaza, so it’s a good option for budget travelers. Check latest price on Agoda.

There’s a free shuttle to the airport (which needs to be arranged with the hotel in advance), restaurants/coffee shops, Magic Eye 3D Art Museum, Hub Market near the hotel (no need to cross the highway).

Facilities: free shuttle to/from airport, 24-hr reception desk, free wifi, buffet breakfast (check the terms&conditions of your hotel booking)

Airport Lounge

1. Airport Lounge: Sapphire Mandai International Lounge

Sapphire Mandai International Lounge is located at International Departure Hall (airside), which is only accessible by passengers flying out of the country. The lounge accepts various local credit cards as well as Priority Pass and LoungeKey. And, they also accept cash payment of IDR 110k per person (as of March 2019)! In my opinion, it’s better to pay by cash rather than use Priority Pass because IDR 110k is about one-third of the price that Priority Pass charges you for one visit, well, unless you have unlimited Priority Pass access.

2. Airport Lounge: Sapphire Bluesky Premier Lounge

Sapphire Bluesky Premier Lounge is located at the furthest end of Domestic Departure Hall (airside), which is accessible by passengers flying out of the city. Similar to Sapphire Mandai, this lounge accepts various local credit cards, Priority Pass as well as cash payment of IDR 110k.

3. Airport Lounge: BRI Lounge

Located at Domestic Departure Hall (airside) beside Sapphire Bluesky, BRI Lounge is less crowded because it only accepts BRI eligible cardholders and JCB. It doesn’t even accept Priority Pass and cash payment!

Food in KNO

To be honest, there are too many restaurants/cafes in KNO that it’s fruitless to list everything here. And these shops change all the time. So, what I’m going to do is to include just some of the shops here. These shops are all located at Public area. If you want to know the latest list of restaurants, here they are.

My favorites? Kalasan, Kok Tong, KFC.

Facilities in KNO

Similarly, the number of facilities in KNO are too many to list out here. I’m including several important ones here.

Do you have any recommendations to include in this article? Do comment below!

First published: 30 March 2019.

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