The largest airport on Java (and in all of Indonesia) is the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport 12 miles (20 kilometers) west of Jakarta. This airport is responsible for all the international traffic that passes through the country. The vast majority of airlines are based in Asia, and there are only a few flights to destinations outside of the continent. Therefore, a transfer in a hub city such as Singapore, Hong Kong or Tokyo will probably be necessary. Exceptions exist for travelers from Australia (direct flights from Perth and Sydney are available through Qantas) and the Middle East (Dubai, Muscat, and a few other cities are served).

Taxis can be found outside the airport terminals, but be careful when dealing with taxi drivers. Always use the meter, as any pre-set price the driver offers you for services will be higher than meter fare. Do not accept the services of transportation brokers, who will often try to cheat you as you are walking out of the terminals. Also, when paying for taxi services, try to have exact change or at least close to it to avoid getting ripped off.

If you are already on another island in Indonesia, you can get back to Java by taking a ferry. There are several boats that run between coastal cities in Java, as well as ones that run between islands. These ferries are an excellent option for travelers who wish to visit multiple towns on Java.