The Ministry of Transportation, through the Directorate General of Air Transportation, will develop several West Papua Airport so that more commercial airlines will stop at the eastern tip of Indonesia.
Airport Director of the Ministry of Transportation’s Air Transportation Directorate, Bambang Tjahjono in Timika, said that several airports in Papua will be developed by the Ministry of Transportation, such as Sentani Jayapura Airport.
West Papua Airport
The Regent of Teluk Wondama, West Papua, Hendrik Mambor, said that the construction of a new airport located in Mawoi Village, Wasior District, is a priority program for the local government and must begin in 2023.
Mambor, contacted by Manokwari, said constructing a new airport is a program the Central Government offers.
The new airport in Wondama also supports tourism development programs as contained in the Short-Term Development Plan (RPJP) and the Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJM) of Teluk Wondama Regency.
In connection with the plan, the Wondama Regency Government has prepared several technical documents related to land management administration for the new airport location.
New Airport Development Plan in West Papua
This year the Wondama Regency Government has provided a budget for constructing an access road to the new airport location. The opening of access to the new West Papua Airports location will facilitate all activities such as land clearing to the physical construction of the airport, which the Central Government will carry out through the Ministry of Transportation.
The new airport is about 8 to 10 kilometers from Wasior City, the capital of Teluk Wondama Regency. The current functional airport runway is only 600 meters, so it can only accommodate Cessna Grand Caravan and Twin Otter aircraft.
According to the master plan study for the new Wondama Bay airport in Mawoi, the construction will be carried out in stages, starting from 1,200 meters long, then 2,000 meters to 3,000 meters so that later wide-body aircraft such as ATR and Boeing can land.
Regional Airports Have Many Advantages
What advantages will an airport provide to West Papuans? The following are some examples of how the infrastructure might benefit the populace:
1. It Enhances the Tourism Industry
Although the area contains many fascinating tourist attractions, the tourism industry is not growing as swiftly as was anticipated. Only a select few people have access to those locations, which is the cause. As a result, the tourist attractions also grow slowly. A more significant number of tourists will be able to enter the area thanks to airports.
2. Faster Commutes for Locals
Papuans have always had trouble traveling elsewhere. It’s possible that the airports on the island are not close to where they live. The cost of travel is prohibitive. Since there are more airports, there are more flying possibilities, implying less expensive transportation. Locals can travel elsewhere for work, school, and other reasons.
3. A More Efficient Logistic Distribution System
The delivery of goods will be easier if additional West Papua airports are constructed. Because of easier distribution, Papuans will have more access to goods that were previously difficult to find (medicines, food items, and other things). As a result, the welfare of the locals will improve along with it.
4. Culture Development Among the People
The federal government said that the West Papua airport would foster a positive culture among the populace, especially regarding timeliness. Since timeliness is crucial to the safety of airplanes, airports frequently operate on schedule. According to the administration, the method aims to impact communities and help them create this culture.
5. Increasing Job Opportunities
People who reside nearby will have additional employment options thanks to any new public infrastructure. The national government highlighted that there might be 4.2 million employment openings in the aviation sector. It is anticipated that improving airport infrastructure in West Papua would benefit the local populace.
Final Takeaway
To encourage more commercial planes to make stops in Indonesia’s easternmost point, the Ministry of Transportation is developing new West Papua airports. The Regent of Teluk Wondama, West Papua, stated that constructing a new airport is one of the local government’s top priorities.
The locals of West Papua will get various advantages from building a regional airport. It will encourage a favorable culture among the public, particularly in terms of punctuality and product delivery. For West Papuans, there might be 4.2 million job vacancies in the aviation industry.
