The airport was constructed by
Japanese forces in 1944 during their
occupation of the Dutch East Indies, as part of the
Pacific Theatre of
World War II. Initially built as a military airbase, it held strategic importance by facilitating the rapid movement of troops and supplies, supporting Japan’s efforts to control key cities in
North Sumatra, and serving as a major defensive position against
Allied forces. Upon its completion, the airbase was notably used to receive Indonesian independence leader and future president
Sukarno, who was visiting the Lake Toba area at the time. After the war ended, the airbase remained unused and abandoned for several decades. After several decades of neglection, the airport underwent renovation in 1995 to support the growing number of passengers visiting Lake Toba. This included extending the original 900-meter runway to 1,400 meters to accommodate larger aircraft. On 9 March 2005, then-President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially inaugurated the newly renovated airport. It was named
Silangit, a word derived from the
Toba Batak expression
Silang di langit or “Cross in the sky,” symbolizing salvation. Local residents believe that
Silangit conveys the idea of physical and spiritual deliverance, particularly in light of the suffering endured during the
Dutch colonial era, which claimed many lives. As a result, whenever a child asked their mother about the whereabouts of their father, the response was often:
Silang di langit i amang inang haporusan (“The cross in the sky, my child, that is salvation”). Around the same time, the airport was designated as an international airport on 28 October 2017, marked by the first charter flight to
Singapore operated by
Garuda Indonesia. However, all international flights were suspended in 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the prolonged absence of international services, the Ministry of Transportation officially revoked the airport’s international status on 2 April 2024. There are proposals to reopen international flights to the airport to accommodate foreign tourists coming to Lake Toba. On 8 September 2018, under a regulation issued by the Ministry of Transportation, the airport was renamed to its current name in honor of
Sisingamangaraja XII, a Batak ruler and a recognized
national hero of Indonesia. He was known for his staunch resistance against colonialism and was killed in a skirmish with Dutch troops in 1907. The airport was named the best airport in
Asia-Pacific in 2020 (under 2 million passengers per annum) by
Airports Council International. ==Facilities and development==