Daily to the Dragons
Published on April 17, 2019
AirAsia Indonesia has announced plans to operate a daily service connecting Denpasar (Bali) and Labuan Bajo in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara commencing in July 2019.
Quoted in NusaBali, Paulus Jeramun, the spokesman for the Regency of West Manggarai, confirmed the new AirAsia service to Labuan Bajo in a statement issued on April 4, 2019. Jeramun reported that directors of AirAsia had recently held meetings with the Regent of West Manggarai, Agustinus Ch Dula, to discuss preparations for the new air service.
The AirAsia officials used their visit to Labuan Bajo to survey the technical elements of the airport, accommodation supplies, restaurants, and other supporting elements to ensure the viability of Western Flores as a tourism destination for AirAsia.
Labuan Bajo serves as the air gateway for the Komodo National Park.
AirAsia is now finalizing the necessary permits from the Government to fly the new service.
Jeramun said that the permits should be in hand by July, suggesting the commencement of the new Denpasar-Labuan Bajo service might be moved up to May – two months ahead of schedule.
The Regency official admitted that the nearby Komodo National Park remains the highlight of a visit to Labuan Bajo.
It is not clear how reports in the international media that the Komodo National Park will soon be closed for at least one year for conservation purposes will affect arrivals as whole to West Maggarai.
