Matahora Airport

Matahora Airport (Indonesian: Bandar Udara Matahora) (IATA: WNI, ICAO: WAWD), is an airport located in Wangi-wangi Island, Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. The airport serves as the point of entry to the Wakatobi National Park, a major international tourist destination, and the surrounding environs.

Matahora Airport

Bandar Udara Matahora
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorGovernment
ServesWangi-wangi
LocationWangi-wangi Island, Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia
Elevation AMSL0 ft / 0 m
Coordinates05°19′00″S 123°35′00″E
Map
WNI
Location of the Airport in Sulawesi
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 2,121 6,959 Asphalt

Construction

Construction of the airport began in 2007 with an investment of 100 billion Rupiah from the Southeast Sulawesi provincial government. The airport was inaugurated on 22 May 2009 by the sitting Indonesian Minister of Transportation Jusman Syafii Djamal.[1]

Expansion

A new terminal was inaugurated on 8 May 2016 by former Minister of Transportation Ignasius Jonan. The new terminal has an area of 1,524 m2 (16,400 sq ft) and can accommodate up to 150 people daily. New facilities include a more spacious boarding lounge, more modern check-in counter, arranged concession area and more hygienic toilets. Other land facilities include a building for the Rescue & Fire Fighting Services, a non-directional beacon, a quarantine building and a wider parking area for vehicles. On the air-side, the airport apron is now expanded to 103 by 73 m (338 by 240 ft) to cater for larger aircraft. A taxiway with an area of 107 by 18 m (351 by 59 ft) has also been constructed. Security-related facilities are also improved, such as additional security screening facilities (x-ray baggage), and the construction of security posts in the area of the airport.[2]

Matahora Airport will be upgraded to an international airport to support the development of local tourism in 2019. The upgrade of this airport status because Wakatobi was selected to be one of 10 tourist destinations set by the government. To support the increase of this airport into an international airport, there needs to be a revamp like a runway. In 2017, the runway of Matahora Airport was 2,000 m (6,600 ft) long and will be upgraded to 2,500 m (8,200 ft) in length by 45 m (148 ft) wide.[3]

Further expansions to the runway, apron, and the cargo loading area is planned for 2021.[4]

Airlines and destinations

Wings Air and Garuda Indonesia operating routes to and from Matahora Airport using ATR-72s.[5]

AirlinesDestinations
Garuda Indonesia Kendari
Wings Air Kendari, Makassar

References
  1. https://www.liputan6.com/news/read/230397/pemkab-wakatobi-bangun-bandara-matahora
  2. Diresmikan Menhub, Ini Wajah Baru Bandara Matahora Wakatobi
  3. Matahora di Wakatobi Segera Jadi Bandara Internasional
  4. Trimahanani, Emy (29 February 2020). "Bandara Matahora, Wakatobi, Berbenah Sebagai Kota Destinasi Wisata Prioritas". Berita Daerah. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  5. "Garuda Indonesia connects Kendari and Wakatobi". The Jakarta Post. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2018.



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