TEMPO.CO, Mataram - PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia's Lombok Airport Branch officially launched a new flight route connecting Lombok (LOP) and Labuan Bajo (LBJ) on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Operated by Wings Air, this route aims to strengthen connectivity between prominent tourist destinations in Indonesia, particularly within the eastern region.The inaugural flight from Labuan Bajo landed at Lombok Airport at 10:44 a.m. Central Indonesian Time (WITA), where it was warmly welcomed with a traditional water salute. The ATR 72-600 aircraft, flight number IW1950, carried 70 passengers and 4 crew members.Passengers and crew were greeted with the traditional Sasak cloth, a welcome led by West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Governor Lalu Muhammad Iqbal. He was accompanied by the NTB Secretary, the Head of the NTB Transportation Agency, the General Manager of Lombok Airport, the General Manager of AirNav Indonesia Lombok, and other key stakeholders.NTB Governor Lalu Muhammad Iqbal expressed his welcome for the direct Wings Air flight between Lombok and Labuan Bajo. He believes this flight will significantly enhance tourist mobility to and from West Nusa Tenggara and provide broader access for NTB residents to explore major national destinations like Labuan Bajo."Hopefully, this route will positively impact NTB's tourism and economy," said Muhammad Iqbal.Lombok-Labuan Bajo Flight ScheduleThis route will operate three times a week, specifically every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Flights will use ATR 72-500/600 aircraft, which have a capacity of 72 passengers. The flight schedule is as follows:- Lombok to Labuan Bajo (Flight Code IW1951): Departs at 11:10 a.m. WITA and arrives at 12:25 p.m. WITA.- Labuan Bajo to Lombok (Flight Code IW1950): Departs at 09:30 a.m. WITA and arrives at 10:50 a.m. WITA.Stephanus Millyas Wardana, the General Manager of Lombok Airport, stated that the opening of this route will further strengthen connectivity between super-priority destinations in eastern Indonesia."This route will serve as an important bridge between NTB and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), facilitating tourist access to both Lombok and Labuan Bajo," he explained.Lombok's Domestic and International RoutesWith the addition of this new service, Lombok Airport now serves nine domestic routes: Jakarta, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Bali, Bima, Sumbawa Besar, Makassar, Balikpapan, and Labuan Bajo. These routes are operated by Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Pelita Air, Lion Air, Batik Air, Super Air Jet, and Wings Air.For international travel, Lombok Airport offers flights to two destinations: Kuala Lumpur (served by Indonesia AirAsia, AirAsia Berhad, and Batik Air Malaysia) and Singapore (served by Scoot).Editor's Choice: KAI Expo Offers Up to 60% Train Ticket DiscountsClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News