Wamena Airport (Indonesian: Bandar Udara Wamena) (IATA: WMX, ICAO: WAVV) is an airport serving the town of Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia. The airport also serves the neighboring Lanny Jaya Regency and Tolikara Regency. It is currently the only airport in the highland region of Papua that can accommodate narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and C-130 Hercules.

Wamena Airport

Bandar Udara Wamena
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerMinistry of Transportation
OperatorMinistry of Transportation
ServesWamena, Tolikara, Yahukimo, Yalimo
LocationWamena, Jayawijaya Regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia
Time zoneWITA (UTC+09:00)
Elevation AMSL5,435 ft / 1,656 m
Coordinates4°05′54″S 138°57′05.98″E / 4.09833°S 138.9516611°E / -4.09833; 138.9516611
Map
WMX is located in Highland Papua
WMX
WMX
Location in Highland Papua
WMX is located in Western New Guinea
WMX
WMX
Location in Western New Guinea
WMX is located in Indonesia
WMX
WMX
Location in Indonesia
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
15/33[1] 7,136 2,175 Asphalt

Improvement

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Wamena Airport in 2006

Recently, a new terminal was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo. The new terminal, which resembles the traditional Papuan home honai, was inaugurated on 30 December 2015.[2] The new terminal which has an area of 4.000 m2 replaced the old run-down terminal which only has an area of 965 m2.[3] Moreover, the runway is also being extended from 2,175 m to 2,400 m. Further improvement involves the building of a parallel taxiway in the airport.[4]

 
Wamena Airport in 2019

Facilities of the new terminal include 5 counter check-in, new boarding lounge with air conditioning, larger toilet and more seats in the boarding lounge. Air-side facilities include an apron which has two aircraft stands covering an area of 180 m x 45 m and 356 m x 45 m each. The airport runway has a length of 2,175 m, which would be extended to 2,400 m and eventually to 2,600 m.[5]

Airlines and destinations

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Passenger

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AirlinesDestinations
Dimonim AirCharter: Dekai, Elelim, Karubaga, Sinak, Ilaga, Beoga, Mulia, Ilu, Jayapura, Mamit, Bokondini, Kobakma, Pasema, Anggruk, Faowi, Kenyam, Paro
Susi AirApalapsili, Bokondini, Dekai, Elelim, Jayapura, Karubaga, Kenyam, Mapenduma, Mulia, Pasema, Tiom
Trigana Air ServiceJayapura, Timika
Wings AirJayapura, Timika

Cargo

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As of 2024, only five cargo airlines served weekly flights to Jayapura.

AirlinesDestinations
Cardig AirJayapura
Jayawijaya DirgantaraJayapura
Tri-MG Intra Asia AirlinesJayapura
My Indo AirlinesJayapura
Rimbun AirJayapura

Accidents and incidents

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  • On 15 August 1984, an Airfast Indonesia Douglas C-47A PK-OBC crashed into a mountain near Wamena. Two of the three people on board were killed.[6]
  • On April 21, 2002, an Antonov An-72 (ES-NOP) of Estonian airline Enimex was damaged in a hard landing at Wamena Airport; a minor fire broke out. Due to the dead battery of the fire truck some firefighters ran to the accident scene with hand-held fire extinguishers. After some 20 minutes the truck's battery was charged, but the aircraft had to be written off. There were no fatalities.[7]
  • On 9 April 2009, an Aviastar BAe 146-300 PK-BRD, flew into a mountain near Wamena, after a failed second approach for landing at Wamena Airport.[8]
  • On 26 September 2011, the airport was razed by fire; all buildings including the departure and arrival terminals were engulfed by fire.[9]
  • On December 18, 2016, an Indonesian Air Force C-130H Hercules flew into hills 1700 m southeast of the runway threshold while attempting to land in poor visibility, killing all 13 people on board.[10][11]
  • On July 18, 2017, a Boeing 737-300F (Freighter) (PK-YGG) of Indonesian airline Tri-MG Intra Asia Airlines sustained substantial damage after a hard landing and subsequent runway excursion. The aircraft came to a stop on rough terrain. No injuries were reported.[12]
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References

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  1. ^ "Direktorat Jenderal Perhubungan Udara".
  2. ^ Jokowi Resmikan 2 Bandara Baru di Papua
  3. ^ Bandara Wamena Siap Diresmikan Presiden Jokowi
  4. ^ Parallel Taxiway Akan Dibangun di Bandara Wamena
  5. ^ Ini Fasilitas Baru di Bandara Wamena
  6. ^ "PK-OBC Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  7. ^ Accident description AN-72 ES-NOP. Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  8. ^ Hradecky, Simon (23 April 2009). "Crash: Aviastar Mandiri B463 at Wamena on Apr 9th 2009, impacted mountain on second approach". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Fire razes Wamena Airport". 26 September 2011.
  10. ^ "Indonesian Air Force Plane Crashes in Papua Killing 13". 18 December 2016.
  11. ^ Accident description C-130H A-1334. Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Accident: Tri-M.G B733 at Wamena on Jul 18th 2017, runway excursion on landing". 18 July 2017.
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