Douw Aturure Airport

Douw Aturure Airport
Bandar Udara Douw Aturure
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Indonesia
OperatorDirectorate General of Civil Aviation
ServesNabire
LocationWanggar, Nabire Regency, Central Papua, Indonesia
Operating base forSmart Aviation
Time zoneWIT (UTC+09:00)
Elevation AMSL6 m / 20 ft
Coordinates003°24′2.7468″S 135°23′48.408″E / 3.400763000°S 135.39678000°E / -3.400763000; 135.39678000
Map
NBX
Location in Central Papua
NBX
Location in Western New Guinea
NBX
Location in Indonesia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
18/36[1] 2,500 8,202 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
Passengers225,264 ( 20.15%)
Cargo (tonnes)2,673.91 ( 16.59%)
Aircraft movements13,116 ( 3.10%)
Source: DGCA[2][3]

Douw Aturure Airport (IATA: NBX, ICAO: WABI) is a domestic airport in Wanggar District, Nabire Regency, Central Papua, Indonesia. The airport began operations in 2023, replacing the old Nabire Airport (also known as Douw Aturure Airport) in Nabire District, which was located just a few hundred meters from the city center. The airport is named after Isaias Douw, a former regent of Nabire Regency, with “Douw Aturure” being a title bestowed by coastal tribes in Nabire. Located about 12 km (7.5 miles) from the city center, the airport serves as the main gateway to Nabire, the capital of Central Papua, as well as the surrounding regions. It also provides access to nearby tourist destinations such as Teluk Cenderawasih National Park. Currently, the airport serves flights to major cities such as Makassar, Jayapura, and Timika, along with pioneer routes to rural areas in the interior.

History

The former Nabire Airport was built by the Dutch colonial government in 1941 during World War II, serving as a military base and a hub for mobilizing logistics for Dutch forces in anticipation of a Japanese invasion.[4] Following the Dutch capitulation in 1942, the airbase was taken over by the Japanese and continued to function as a military base for their operations against Allied forces in the Pacific Theater. The Japanese considered Nabire a strategic airbase due to its location at the southern end of Geelvink Bay; however, only a limited number of aircraft were stationed there, and it was used primarily as a refueling stop.[5] In 1944, the Japanese used the Nabire airstrip as a launch point for attacks against Allied positions on Biak and Owi to the north.[5]

Following the end of the war, the airstrip was returned to Dutch control. In 1960, the Netherlands New Guinea authorities upgraded the airport to accommodate aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3 Dakota and the Twin Pioneer.[6] The airport was subsequently handed over to the Indonesian government in 1963 following the New York Agreement, under which the Dutch recognized Indonesia’s sovereignty over Western New Guinea. To consolidate Indonesia’s control over the Nabire region and support the plebiscite on Indonesia’s rule in Western New Guinea, known as the Act of Free Choice, the government upgraded the airport’s infrastructure in 1969, including the construction of a new terminal and administrative offices[4]. The project was completed and inaugurated in 1973 by the wife of the then Minister of Transportation, Emil Salim.[4] Several airlines began pioneering flights in Nabire, including Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), which operated mission aircraft affiliated with Protestant churches.[4] Another operator, Association Mission Aviation (AMA), was affiliated with the Catholic Church. Both organizations continue to operate in Nabire to this day, providing not only church mission services but also commercial flights.[4]

On 21 October 1996, an Indonesian Army sergeant hijacked a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter cargo aircraft on a domestic flight from Obano to Nabire after secretly bringing a pistol on board.[7] He ordered the pilot to divert to Manokwari so he could visit his family.[7] The pilot agreed on the condition that the aircraft refuel in Nabire, where the crew escaped upon landing and the hijacker surrendered to police waiting at the airport.[7]

On 23 April 2019, a building at the old Nabire airport caught fire. There were no casualties, and the operations of the airport following the fire were unaffected.[8]

On 23 November 2023, President Joko Widodo inaugurated the new Douw Aturure Airport alongside Siboru Airport in Fakfak. Construction of the new airport took two years from 2020 to 2022.[9] In total, the construction of the airport cost approximately Rp 671.54 billion, funded through the state budget (APBN).[9]

The airport sustained damage from a magnitude 6.6 earthquake on 19 September 2025.[10]

Facilities and development

When the new airport began operation in 2023, it has a single runway with a length of 1,600 m and a terminal with an area of 6,320 m2, capable of serving 289,700 passengers each year.[9] The airport also includes a taxiway measuring 23 m × 165 m and an apron measuring 367.5 m × 100 m.[11] The design of the terminal incorporates a local wisdom concept with modern stylistic elements.[9] Its overall theme is inspired by trees, drawing from the tropical rainforests of Papua. The terminal roof design is also derived from the form of tropical forests, combined with elements resembling a paper airplane.[9]

In 2025, the airport’s runway was extended from its original 1,600 × 30 m to 2,500 × 30 m, enabling it to accommodate narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737-800, 737-900ER, and Airbus A320. This development allows airlines operating narrow-body aircraft, such as Batik Air, to begin opening routes to and from Nabire.[12] Previously, the airport could only handle aircraft up to the size of the ATR 72.[13] In the future, the runway is also planned to be widened from its current 30 m to 45 m.[12] The current terminal is also planned to be expanded to approximately 11,000 m², with the capacity to accommodate up to 573,700 passengers annually.[14]

Airlines and destinations

The following destinations are served from Douw Aturure Airport:

AirlinesDestinations
Batik AirAmbon (begins 29 March 2026)[15]
Sriwijaya Air Jayapura,[16] Makassar
Smart AviationBilorai, Beoga, Dagai, Enarotali, Faowi, Illu, Ilaga, Kaimana, Mulia, Moanamani, Pogapa, Sinak, Wasior, Waghete
Wings AirJayapura,[17] Manokwari, Timika

Statistics

Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics
Year
Passengers
handled
Passenger
% change
Cargo
(tonnes)
Cargo
% change
Aircraft
movements
Aircraft
% change
2006 32,042 1,456.50 14,023
2007 38,666 20.67 192.47 86.79 11,556 17.59
2008 61,327 58.61 3,124.23 1523.23 14,656 26.83
2009 54,473 11.18 653.35 79.09 15,166 3.48
2010 61,365 12.65 2,362.96 261.67 16,218 6.94
2011 80,099 30.53 3,260.65 37.99 17,201 6.06
2012 191,931 139.62 5,319.42 63.14 22,849 32.84
2013 133,448 30.47 5,445.27 2.37 22,620 1.00
2014 149,084 11.72 5,488.63 0.80 25,577 13.07
2015 141,106 5.35 4,973.85 9.38 22,549 11.84
2016 184,433 30.71 3,167.82 36.31 20,823 7.65
2017 200,447 8.68 1,986.11 37.30 18,407 11.60
2018 211,503 5.52 2,108.15 6.14 16,164 12.19
2019 225,749 6.74 3,923.12 86.09 16,294 0.80
2020 111,480 50.62 3,762.07 4.11 11,183 31.37
2021 162,210 45.51 2,990.64 20.51 12,070 7.93
2022 172,534 6.36 3,608.70 20.67 12,625 4.60
2023 187,483 8.66 3,205.65 11.17 12,722 0.77
2024 225,264 20.15 2,673.91 16.59 13,116 3.10
Source: DGCA, BPS[3][18]

Accidents and incidents

  • On 27 January 2026, a Smart Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, PK-SNS, crash-landed on a beach shortly after takeoff from the airport. All 13 occupants survive.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Direktorat Jenderal Perhubungan Udara".
  2. ^ "Bandar Udara Douw Aturure" (in Indonesian). Ministry of Transportation. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Statistik Transportasi Udara 2024". Statistics Indonesia. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Yuk Cari Tahu Sejarah Berdirinya Bandara Nabire". Nabire.Net (in Indonesian). 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  5. ^ a b Rutter, Joseph W. (2004). Wreaking Havoc: A Year in an A-20. Texas A&M University Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-1-58544-289-8.
  6. ^ Rapport inzake Nederlands Nieuw-Guinea over het jaar ... (in Dutch). Ministerie voor Uniezaken en Overzeese Rijksdelen. 1960. p. 74.
  7. ^ a b c Criminal Acts Against Civil Aviation. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Civil Aviation Security. 1996. p. 11.
  8. ^ "Kebakaran di Bandara Nabire Akibat Korsleting AC". detiknews (in Indonesian). 23 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  9. ^ a b c d e Arieza, Ulfa (2023-11-23). "Diresmikan Jokowi, Ketahui 6 Fakta Bandara Douw Aturure di Nabire Halaman 2". KOMPAS.com. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  10. ^ "Gempa 6,6 Guncang Nabire: Bandara Baru, Jembatan, dan Gereja Rusak". Galeri Papua (in Indonesian). 19 September 2025. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  11. ^ Alfarizi, M. Khory (6 July 2023). "Kemenhub Tinjau Bandara Nabire Baru: Siap Digunakan dari Sisi Udara dan Darat". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  12. ^ a b Saudila, Arnold (13 June 2025). "Runway Bandara Nabire Diperpanjang, Maskapai Domestik Siap Masuk - RRI.co.id". rri.co.id - Portal berita terpercaya. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  13. ^ Thenniarti, Dian (24 November 2023). "Bandara Siboru dan Nabire Baru Resmi Jadi Jembatan Udara di Papua". InfoPublik (in Indonesian).
  14. ^ Rochimawati (2024-06-14). "Bandara Douw Aturure Papua Tengah akan Diperbesar". Majalah Lintas (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-22.
  15. ^ "New Batik Air Ambon-Nabire Route Is Officially Agreed, Flights Begin on March 2026". nabire.net. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  16. ^ "Sriwijaya Air Resmi Hadirkan Rute Baru Makassar-Sorong-Nabire". Kompas. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  17. ^ "Wings Air Flight from Sentani International Airport to Nabire". airpaz.com.
  18. ^ "Statistik Angkatan Udara 2019" (PDF). DGCA. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Daftar Identitas Penumpang Pesawat Smart Air PK-SNS Jatuh di Laut Nabire". Inews (in Indonesian). 27 January 2026.
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