Sandiaga said an airline had bypassed AirAsia to Komodo Airport

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno announced that there is an airline that will overtake AirAsia, making its first international flight to Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Sandiaga said AirAsia is the first airline to book the first international flight to Komodo Airport, which is on September 3, 2024. The first international flight was on the Kuala Lumpur route ( Malaysia)-Labuan Bajo. However, there are other airlines that plan to start their first international flights to Komodo Airport this August.

“Good news, on September 3 the first overseas flight to land at Komodo International Airport is Ai Asia, Kuala Lumpur-Labuan Bajo. However, I heard that there is news, that is that there is an airline that wants to fly It will be announced first.

Sandiaga declined to name the airline that would overtake AirAsia. He shared a grid of the airline with investors to celebrate.

“I can’t say which airline, but I guess you can guess which ones like to open terminals without news flying around all of a sudden. This is the plan to crown itself as the first airline to land in Komodo to open international flights. “, said Sandiaga.

So far, he said, AirAsia is the only airline that has sold tickets for the first international flight to Komodo Airport. Sandiaga confirmed that he would welcome the first flight. He hopes that other airlines will appear that will open international flights to Labuan Bajo.

“But AirAsia, 3 September 2024, is the one that is already selling (tickets), we will welcome it. This is the first step of many more direct flights to Labuan Bajo. In addition to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia and several other airports and airlines that “I want to open direct flights to Labuan Bajo,” said Sandiaga.

Before that, the Komodo Airport Organizational Unit (UPBU) Office Chief, Ceppy Triono, said that the runway and the aircraft parking area (apron) at the Komodo Airport were ready to serve the first flight from abroad. Even though the runway extension will only be completed in December 2024, the existing runway can now serve AirAsia flights from Kuala Lumpur as it uses the same type of aircraft that is already working at Komodo airport.

“Our runway and apron are ready,” said Ceppy.

(dpw/dpw)