In 2015, the 1,200 meters runway was extended to 1,600 meters to accommodate ATR-72 so passengers from Tanjung Harapan Airport could fly directly to Balikpapan without having to transit in Tarakan. It was decided to use the 2015 North Kalimantan Province budget with an amount of Rp 10 billion ($0.8 million) to extend the runway 350 meters towards the hill (direction TH 21) and 50 meters towards the Selor River (direction TH 03). The hill was cut and the road at the hill was relocated.[3]