Domine Eduard Osok Airport

"Sorong Airport" redirects here. For the old airport, see Jefman Airport.
Domine Eduard Osok Airport
Bandar Udara Domine Eduard Osok
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Indonesia
OperatorDirectorate General of Civil Aviation
ServesSorong
LocationSorong, Southwest Papua, Indonesia
Opened20 March 2004 (2004-03-20)
Time zoneWIT (UTC+09:00)
Elevation AMSL10 ft / 3 m
Coordinates00°53′39″S 131°17′20″E / 0.89417°S 131.28889°E / -0.89417; 131.28889
Map
SOQ/WASS
Location in Southwest Papua
SOQ/WASS
Location in Western New Guinea
SOQ/WASS
Location in Indonesia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
09/27 2,500 8,202 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
Passengers1,673,446 ( 30.25%)
Cargo (tonnes)7,076.21 ( 3.14%)
Aircraft movements13,276 ( 0.98%)
Source: DGCA[1][2]

Domine Eduard Osok Airport (IATA: SOQ, ICAO: WASS) is an international airport serving Sorong, the capital and largest city of the province of Southwest Papua in Western New Guinea, Indonesia. The airport is located approximately 8 km (5.0 miles) from Sorong's city center. It is the largest and busiest airport on the Bird’s Head Peninsula and serves as the main gateway to Sorong and nearby regions, including the Raja Ampat Islands. The airport replaced the smaller Jefman Airport, a former World War II airfield located on Jefman Island.The airport is named after Domine Eduard Osok, a pastor from Sorong who was known for his missionary work and for spreading Christianity in Sorong and surrounding areas.[3] Domine Eduard Osok Airport is connected to major Indonesian cities such as Jakarta, Denpasar, Makassar, and Manado, as well as key cities in Western New Guinea including Jayapura, Timika, and Manokwari. It also serves rural flights to remote interior regions of the island, which are generally accessible only by air.

History

Before the current airport opened, Jefman Airport served as Sorong’s main airport. It is located on Jefman Island, approximately 16.7 km from the Port of Sorong.[4] Built during the Dutch colonial era in the 1930s, it was originally constructed to transport gold and petroleum extracted from exploration activities in Klamano, under the auspices of the Nederlandsche Nieuw Guinea Petroleum Maatschappij (NNGPM).[5] Over time, the airport suffered from severe overcapacity and could not be expanded due to limited land availability. With only a single 1,650 m runway, it could accommodate only small aircraft such as the Fokker F28. In addition, passengers had to travel by boat to reach Sorong, which takes around 30 to 45 minutes, making access to the airport time-consuming and inconvenient.[5] To address these limitations, the government decided to construct a new airport to replace the outdated Jefman Airport. The new airport was completed in 2004, after which Jefman Airport was closed and has since been abandoned.[5]

In August 2019, the airport was damaged by violent protesters following large-scale protests in Papua.[6]

As an airport feeder, Domine Eduard Osok Airport serves domestic scheduled services operated by several airlines including Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air and Sriwijaya Air. In addition, the airport also serves pioneer destinations which are operated by Susi Air to some surrounding areas such as Ayawasi, Inawatan, Teminabuan, and Waisai. With a length of 2,500 meters and 45 meters wide, this airport runway can be landed by jet aircraft like the Boeing 737 series and the Airbus A320.[7]

The airport was officially designated as an international airport by the Ministry of Transportation on 17 August 2025.[8] Following this designation, plans are being considered to open international routes from Sorong to Australia and other Asia-Pacific countries.[9]

Facilities and development

In 2013, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation allocated IDR 50 billion ($5.1 million) for runway width expansion to 45 meters from 30 meters.[10] Due to overcapacity, the government has lengthened the runway to 2,500 m from 1,950 m so that the airport can accommodate Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.[11] Expansion of the airport commenced in 2011 and finished in 2016. The expansion included the construction of a passenger terminal building into 2 floors, the installation of two new jet bridges and a fixed bridge, baggage handling system, terminal lift, luggage x-ray, multi-view cabin, walk-through metal detector, and addition of other facilities such as concession area and interior terminal design update.[12] During that period, a total of approximately 236 billion rupiah from the state budget (APBN) was utilized.[13] With the construction of a more modern and well equipped airport, air transportation services in Sorong and the surrounding areas are expected to improve significantly. In this way, Domine Eduard Osok Airport, as the gateway to Sorong City, can serve as a key driver in supporting the continued growth of Eastern Indonesia. The new terminal was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo and Transportation Minister Ignatius Jonan,[14]

The exterior of the passenger terminal displays a unique form of ornamentation resembling betel nuts.[13] The architecture design of Domine Eduard Osok Airport is designed to reflect the local culture. In addition, the interior has also been enhanced and equipped with facilities that add passenger comfort. With a passenger terminal building expanded to 13,700 m², the airport can accommodate up to 782 passengers per day.[13] On the other side, the navigation facility will be improved in the future. AirNav Sorong also seeks to optimize the instrument landing system (ILS) to assist the landing. This would allow aircraft to land at the airport with ease and also allow the airport to serve night flights. AirNav Sorong is also currently installing a billing data system (BDS) and a billing cash system (BCS). The renovation of the air traffic control tower that was damaged due to an earthquake will also be part of the improvement of the airport's navigation system.[15]

Due to the growing number of passengers traveling to and from Sorong, the current terminal—designed to accommodate only 1.2 million passengers annually—is already operating beyond its capacity. Plans are underway to expand the terminal from 13,700 m² to 14,000 m², increasing its capacity to up to 2.8 million passengers per year.[16]

Airlines and destinations

Although the airport was upgraded to international status, it only serves domestic flights. However, the government is planning to begin international routes from this airport.[17]

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Batik Air Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta,[18] Manokwari,[19] Timika[20]
Garuda Indonesia Denpasar,[21] Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta[22]
Lion Air Ambon,[23] Jayapura,[24] Makassar,[25] Manado,[26] Surabaya[27]
Sriwijaya Air Jayapura,[28] Makassar,[29] Nabire[30]
Susi Air Ayawasi, Bintuni, Gebe, Inanwatan, Kabare, Teminabuan, Waisai
TransNusa Manado,[31] Timika[32]
Wings Air Babo,[33] Biak,[34] Fakfak,[35] Kaimana

Statistics

Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics
Year
Passengers
handled
Passenger
% change
Cargo
(tonnes)
Cargo
% change
Aircraft
movements
Aircraft
% change
2006 220,123 204.32 4,667
2007 167,933 23.71 373.91 83.00 3,117 33.21
2008 140,059 16.60 963.42 157.66 5,724 83.64
2009 292,792 109.05 817.27 15.17 6,694 16.95
2010 88,436 69.80 369.20 54.83 1,979 70.44
2011 774,947 776.28 1,854.10 402.19 14,836 649.67
2012 644,406 16.85 1,862.01 0.43 10,034 32.37
2013 568,100 11.84 2,028.78 8.96 9,138 8.93
2014 501,750 11.68 2,910.74 43.47 9,337 2.18
2015 824,941 64.41 3,584.29 23.14 13,244 41.84
2016 978,331 18.59 2,406.58 32.86 14,897 12.48
2017 1,240,887 26.84 1,911.54 20.57 18,124 21.66
2018 1,629,291 31.30 6,558.81 243.12 19,376 6.91
2019 1,481,163 9.09 5,736.61 12.54 17,549 9.43
2020 683,562 53.85 4,817.31 16.03 8,923 49.15
2021 758,795 11.01 6,146.89 27.60 9,498 6.44
2022 1,208,145 59.22 4,198.88 31.69 12,130 27.71
2023 1,284,824 6.35 7,305.30 73.98 13,408 10.54
2024 1,673,446 30.25 7,076.21 3.14 13,276 0.98
Source: DGCA, BPS[2][36]

References

  1. ^ "Bandar Udara Domine Eduard Osok" (in Indonesian). Ministry of Transportation. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Statistik Transportasi Udara 2024". Statistics Indonesia. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  3. ^ "Nama Bandara Sorong beserta Sejarahnya yang Menarik Disimak". kumparan (in Indonesian). 11 April 2024. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  4. ^ Dhave, Dhanang (2014-08-21). "Pulau Jefman, Keindahan Alam dan Sisa-sisa Kejayaan Penerbangan". KOMPASIANA (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  5. ^ a b c Illahi, Kurnia (16 December 2022). "Jejak Bandara Jefman di Papua Barat, Pernah Dijadikan Landasan Pesawat Perang Belanda". papua.inews.id (in Indonesian).
  6. ^ "Massa rusak Bandara DEO dan bakar Lapas Sorong". ANTARA News (in Indonesian). 19 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Wow, Lihat Dong Megahnya Bandara Sorong yang Baru - Tribunnews.com". Tribunnews.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2018-02-04.
  8. ^ Laing, Husni (20 August 2025). "Deo Sorong Naik Status Jadi Bandara Internasional - RRI.co.id". rri.co.id - Portal berita terpercaya (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  9. ^ Adidati, Felix (21 August 2025). "Meski Sudah Berstatus Internasional, Bandara DEO Sorong Belum Layani Penerbangan Luar Negeri". sorongraya.inews.id (in Indonesian).
  10. ^ "Pengembangan Bandara dan Pelabuhan di Papua Barat Sudah Sangat Mendesak". April 16, 2013. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  11. ^ "Runway Bandara DEO Diperpanjang 300 Meter". Archived from the original on 2019-09-30. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  12. ^ Sutianto, Feby Dwi. "Cantiknya Bandara Domine Eduard Osok di Sorong". detikfinance. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
  13. ^ a b c Sutianto, Feby Dwi (20 March 2016). "Cakep! Ini Wajah Baru Bandara Sorong Senilai Rp 236 M". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  14. ^ <asep.muhamad[at]torche.co.id>, Asep Muhamad. "Bandara Domine Eduard Osok Sorong dan Bandara Mopah Merauke Diresmikan". www.dephub.go.id. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
  15. ^ developer, metrotvnews. "AirNav Sorong Berupaya Perbaiki Fasilitas Navigasi Penerbangan di Timur Indonesia". metrotvnews.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
  16. ^ Banafanu, Yuvensius Lasa (29 April 2024). "Bandara DEO Sorong target pengembangan kapasitas perkuat daya tampung". ANTARA News Papua Tengah (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  17. ^ "Bandara DEO Sorong jadi Bandara Internasional, Belum Ada Penerbangan ke Luar Negeri". Radar Sorong (in Indonesian). 2025-08-21. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  18. ^ "Batik Air Flight from Domine Eduard Osok Airport to Jakarta". airpaz.com.
  19. ^ "Batik Air Flight from Domine Eduard Osok Airport to Manokwari". airpaz.com.
  20. ^ "Mulai 5 Juli 2024, Batik Air Resmi Buka Rute Baru Terbang Langsung Timika – Sorong". fajarpapua.com. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  21. ^ "Denpasar to Sorong Flight Schedule(February 2026)". flyteam.jp. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  22. ^ "Garuda Indonesia Flight from Domine Eduard Osok Airport to Jakarta". airpaz.com.
  23. ^ "Lion Air Flight from Domine Eduard Osok Airport to Ambon". airpaz.com.
  24. ^ "Lion Air Flight from Domine Eduard Osok Airport to Jayapura". airpaz.com.
  25. ^ "Lion Air Flight from Domine Eduard Osok Airport to Makassar". airpaz.com.
  26. ^ "Lion Air Flight from Domine Eduard Osok Airport to Manado". airpaz.com.
  27. ^ "Lion Air Flight from Juanda International Airport to Domine Eduard Osok Airport". www.airpaz.com.
  28. ^ "Sorong routes and destinations". flightradar24. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  29. ^ "Sriwijaya Air Resmi Hadirkan Rute Baru Makassar-Sorong-Nabire". regional.kompas.com. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  30. ^ "Sriwijaya Air Resmi Hadirkan Rute Baru Makassar-Sorong-Nabire". regional.kompas.com. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  31. ^ "TransNusa Flight from Domine Eduard Osok Airport to Manado". airpaz.com.
  32. ^ "Mulai 15 Desember, TransNusa Perluas Layanan Ke Indonesia Timur". Koran Jakarta (in Indonesian). 6 December 2025. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  33. ^ "Babo(BXB) to Sorong(SOQ)". flyteam.jp. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  34. ^ "Bupati Biak Numfor Pastikan Bulan Market Penerbangan Perdana Biak-Sorong". rri.co.id. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  35. ^ "Mudik Nataru, Wings Air Tambahan Ekstra Flight Sorong-Fakfak". PrimaRakyat.com (in Indonesian). 2024-12-23. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  36. ^ "Statistik Angkatan Udara 2019" (PDF). DGCA. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Domine Eduard Osok Airport.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Domine Eduard Osok Airport.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.