Mali Airport (Indonesia)
Mali Airport Bandar Udara Mali | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Indonesia | ||||||||||
| Operator | Directorate General of Civil Aviation | ||||||||||
| Serves | Kalabahi | ||||||||||
| Location | Kabola, Alor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia | ||||||||||
| Time zone | WITA (UTC+08:00) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 12 m / 39 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 8°7′54″S 124°35′51″E / 8.13167°S 124.59750°E | ||||||||||
 Interactive map of Mali Airport | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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Mali Airport (IATA: ARD, ICAO: WATM), also known as the Alor Island Airport, is a domestic airport serving Kalabahi, the administrative center of Alor Regency on Alor Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The name "Mali" is rooted in strong local traditions and legends, often associated with the history of the coastal area of Alor Island, particularly around the present-day airport. The airport is one of only two in the regency, the other being Kabir Airport on Pantar Island, with this airport being the largest and busiest in the regency. Located approximately 18 km (11.2 miles) from Kalabahi town center, it serves as the main gateway to the town, Alor Island, and the wider Alor Archipelago. Currently, the airport is served by a single airline, Wings Air, which operates flights to and from Kupang, the provincial capital of East Nusa Tenggara on Timor Island. Previously, the airport was also connected by flights to Denpasar in Bali, although this service has since been discontinued.
History
[edit]Mali Airport was built by the Indonesian government between 1974 and 1975 as part of a program by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation under the Ministry of Transportation to develop rural airstrips across Indonesia, aimed at supporting regions with limited access to transportation.[1]
Merpati Nusantara Airlines was among the first carriers to operate flights to the airport, serving the Kalabahi–Kupang route. The airline initially used the Fokker 27 and later the Xian MA-60 prior to its eventual closure in early 2014.[2][3][4] Other carriers, such as TransNusa, also operated the Kalabahi–Kupang route using the ATR 72 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[5] In 2019, NAM Air, a subsidiary of Sriwijaya Air, launched a route between Kalabahi and Denpasar, Bali, using the ATR 72-600.[6] However, the service was short-lived. Currently, the airport is served by only one airline, Wings Air, which operates its sole route between Kalabahi and Kupang.[7]
To attract more tourists, there have been proposals to upgrade the airport to international status, as well as to open new routes to Bali, Labuan Bajo, and Dili in East Timor.[8]
Facilities and development
[edit]In 2007, the runway at Mali Airport was extended from 1,050 meters to 1,520 meters, and its width was increased from 23 meters to 30 meters, enabling aircraft such as the Fokker 27 and ATR 42 to land at the airport.[9] Currently, Mali Airport in Alor has a runway length of 1,600 meters, capable of accommodating ATR 72 aircraft, and an apron measuring 100 m × 40 m.[10] Plans are underway to extend the runway to 2,000 meters, allowing the airport to accommodate narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737.[8]
Airlines and destinations
[edit]| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Wings Air | Kupang |
Statistics
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Angkasa (in Indonesian). Indonesian Air Force. 1974. p. 47.
- ^ "Nyaris Tergelincir, Pesawat Merpati Batal Mendarat di Alor". detiknews (in Indonesian). 19 January 2025. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ^ "Merpati batal mendarat di Kalabahi akibat cuaca buruk". Antara News (in Indonesian). 2012-02-02. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ^ Umma, Anis Rifatul (28 January 2014). "Merpati Airlines Hentikan Penerbangan di NTT". investor.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ^ "Pesawat Trans Nusa Tujuan Alor Batal Mendarat Akibat Cuaca Buruk". medcom.id (in Indonesian). 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ^ Lestari, Mustiana (2 March 2019). "NAM Air Buka Rute Penerbangan Baru Denpasar-Alor". detikTravel (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ^ Manehat, Okto (28 November 2023). "Kabandara Mali Minta Wings Air Tambah Frekwensi Penerbangan Ke Alor". Media Kupang (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ^ a b Kaha, Kornelis (2020-11-10). "Bandara Mali ditargetkan menjadi bandara internasional". Antara News NTT (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ^ Pembangunan Kabupaten Alor melalui teknologi tepat guna (in Indonesian). Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, Balai Besar Pengembangan Teknologi Tepat Guna. 2007. p. 45. ISBN 978-979-799-087-9.
- ^ "Tinjau Empat Bandara di NTT, Menhub: Dukung Sektor Pariwisata dan Kegiatan Internasional". Indonesian Ministry of Transporation (in Indonesian). 14 January 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
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