Central Lombok, W Nusa Tenggar (ANTARA) – Lombok’s international airport in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), is prepared to handle a new flight route connecting Indonesia and Turkiye, officials said, part of broader efforts to boost tourism and economic growth in the region.State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia said it can accommodate both domestic and international flights with wide-body aircraft. The airport has upgraded infrastructure and facilities to meet operational standards.“Lombok is ready to accommodate new routes,” the airport’s spokesperson, Angga Maruli Anugrah, said on Thursday, citing smooth operations during events such as the recent MotoGP at Mandalika Circuit as evidence of readiness.While the airport is prepared, airlines must still obtain approvals from relevant authorities. No official flight schedules for the Lombok-Turkey route have been announced.The new route follows a bilateral agreement between Indonesia and Turkey to expand civil aviation links, increase flight capacity, and strengthen tourism, trade, and economic opportunities.The agreement was finalized during a bilateral air transport consultation in Istanbul on Oct. 22–23, 2025, led by Agustinus Budi Hartono, director of air transport at Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.The talks produced two signed documents establishing a framework for enhanced aviation cooperation.Under the deal, Indonesia adds eight new destinations – Yogyakarta, Majalengka, Manado, Medan, Balikpapan, Sorong, Kediri, and Lombok – to Turkey’s flight network, complementing existing routes to Jakarta and Denpasar.Turkey will add Izmir and Bodrum alongside Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya.Passenger flight capacity rights have more than doubled, from 14 to 32 weekly flights, allowing airlines to explore new routes beyond Jakarta and Denpasar.“This expansion is a strategic step to strengthen air connectivity between Indonesia and Turkey while opening opportunities for new routes and market access,” Hartono said, highlighting the deal as a sign of both countries’ commitment to closer aviation ties.Meanwhile, regarding foreign tourist arrivals at Lombok International Airport, the NTB Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded at 8,641 in May 2025, up 10.6 percent from 7,812 in April.Year-on-year, arrivals rose 11.6 percent, from 7,742 in May 2024 to 8,641 in May 2025, the agency’s head, Wahyudin, said.He credited the increase to several international events, including the Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia at Mandalika Circuit, the Rinjani 100 Ultra Marathon, and the 2025 Paragliding World Cup (PGAWC) in Mekarsari Village.Long holidays and visits by ambassadors and foreign delegations to Mataram also boosted numbers.Most foreign tourists came from ASEAN countries, totaling 4,813 visitors. European tourists numbered 2,288, other Asian countries (excluding ASEAN) 1,017, the Americas 257, Oceania 209, the Middle East 16, and Africa 41.The top three countries of origin were Malaysia with 1,349 visitors, Singapore with 927, and China with 566.
Lombok airport ready for new Indonesia-Turkiye flight route
