Head of the Komodo Labuan Bajo Airport Management Unit, Ceppy Triono, stated that 3,610 passengers used international flights on the Kuala Lumpur-Labuan Bajo route throughout September.
Ceppy Triono also highlighted that the Kuala Lumpur-Labuan Bajo route is relatively new, with the first international flight operating on the 3rd of September. The route offers three flights a week, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
“There were 1,817 international passengers arriving and 1,793 departing, bringing the total to 3,610 passengers for September 2024,” Triono informed the press on Monday, the 14th of October.
For the month of October (thus far), Triono revealed that from the 1st to the 14th of October, 1,776 passengers had used international flights. Of these, 908 passengers flew from Kuala Lumpur to Labuan Bajo, while 868 were recorded departing from Labuan Bajo to Kuala Lumpur.
Triono expects the high number of international passengers to continue throughout October.
“The number of passengers in September and October is likely to remain the same, as the occupancy rate is good—above 80%—with flights operating three times a week,” he added.
On the 3rd of September, the Malaysian multinational low-cost airline AirAsia officially opened the new international Kuala Lumpur-Labuan Bajo route. This marked the first direct international flight connecting the Malaysian capital to the fishing town of Labuan Bajo, which has been designated by the Indonesian government as one of its Super Priority Tourism Destinations.
“We are committed to contributing to the development of Labuan Bajo as a world-class destination by making it more accessible to travellers from around the globe. Collaboration between the government, airlines, and other stakeholders is essential to achieving the ambitious targets set for Labuan Bajo and ensuring its status as a leading tourism destination in Indonesia,” stated AirAsia President Director, Dato Captain Fareh Mazputra, at the route’s launch on the 3rd of September.