Rendani Airport

Rendani Airport
Bandar Udara Rendani
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Indonesia
OperatorDirectorate General of Civil Aviation
ServesManokwari
LocationManokwari, Manokwari Regency, West Papua, Indonesia
Time zoneWIT (UTC+09:00)
Elevation AMSL4.6 m / 15 ft
Coordinates00°53′30″S 134°02′57″E / 0.89167°S 134.04917°E / -0.89167; 134.04917
Map
MKW/WAUU is located in Bird's Head Peninsula
MKW/WAUU
MKW/WAUU
MKW/WAUU is located in West Papua (province)
MKW/WAUU
MKW/WAUU
Location in West Papua
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
17/35 2,300 7,546 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
Passengers476,804 (Decrease 6.33%)
Cargo (tonnes)2,986.46 (Decrease 3.03%)
Aircraft movements6,129 (Increase 0.61%)
Source: DGCA[1][2]

Rendani Airport (IATA: MKW, ICAO: WAUU) is a domestic airport serving Manokwari, the capital and largest town of West Papua province in Western New Guinea, Indonesia. Located about 3 km (1.86 miles) from the city center, it serves as the main gateway to Manokwari and its surrounding regions, as well as to much of West Papua, particularly the eastern part of the Bird’s Head Peninsula. It is the second-busiest airport on the Bird’s Head Peninsula, after Domine Eduard Osok Airport in Sorong. The airport operates flights to major cities in Western New Guinea, such as Jayapura, Nabire and Sorong, as well as to Makassar in South Sulawesi. In addition, it functions as a hub for pioneer routes to smaller towns, including Fakfak and Kaimana, and other remote areas of West Papua, where air transport is often the only means of access.

History

Colonial era

Rendani Airfield in 1957

Prior to the construction of the airport, the land on which Rendani Airport now stands was customary land owned by three Papuan tribes inhabiting the Manokwari area: the Arfak, Doreri, and Boray.[3] To this day, these communities continue to seek compensation from the Indonesian government for the use of their land for the airport’s development.[3]

Rendani Airport was initially constructed by Japanese occupation forces as a military airstrip during the occupation of the Dutch East Indies between 1942 and 1943, as part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II to support operations against Allied forces.[4] It was built with a single runway parallel to the coast, along with taxiways and revetments.[5] The airfield was considered strategic by the Japanese due to its location along the coast of Geelvink Bay, which made it a key chokepoint for Allied advances into the rest of the Dutch East Indies. It hosted one of the largest Japanese bases in New Guinea, with around 13,000 troops garrisoned there.[6] In June 1944, in preparation for the landings at Noemfoor, the USAAF carried out raids on Manokwari airfield.[7] Throughout the month, the 3rd Bombardment Group struck targets at the Manokwari, Jeymon, and Samate airfields near the tip of the Vogelkop Peninsula, as well as on Noemfoor.[7] On June 16, forty-five B-25s—followed by another formation escorted by P-38s—destroyed most of the remaining Japanese aircraft at Manokwari airfield. Raids across the Vogelkop continued through the final week of June.[7] Despite this, the Americans did not consider Manokwari a strategic target, as Allied Air Forces aircraft operating from nearby airfields on the Geelvink Bay islands, such as Biak and Noemfoor, could accomplish virtually the same missions as those based in Manokwari.[8] Moreover, these islands could be secured at lower cost, and from them the Allies could effectively keep Japanese air and naval bases in the Manokwari area inoperative.[8]

Following the end of the war, the airfield was handed over to the Dutch authorities. However, it had been heavily damaged during the conflict and was left inoperable, with its runway cratered by Allied air raids.[9] Repairs by the Dutch colonial administration did not begin until 1952, and Rendani Airport was officially reopened to air traffic in April 1955.[9] By 1961, De Kroonduif, a subsidiary of KLM operating in Netherlands New Guinea, was running services from Manokwari to its hub in Biak, with onward connections to Sorong, Kebar Valley, Ransiki, and Kaimana using the Douglas DC-3 Dakota.[10] Following the New York Agreement in 1962, control of the airport was scheduled to be transferred from the Dutch authorities to the Indonesian government. Between August 1962 and early 1963, the airport also served as a temporary hub for the repatriation of Dutch citizens from Manokwari, with aircraft operated by KLM and De Kroonduif transporting them back to the Netherlands.[11]

Modern era

Former terminal of Rendani Airport, 2009
A Merpati Nusantara Airlines Boeing 737-300 at Rendani Airport, 2009

Following the integration of Western New Guinea into Indonesia, the airfield was handed over to Indonesian authorities. Between 1969 and 1970, unrest erupted in Manokwari due to the activities of pro-independence Papuan rebels who rejected the Act of Free Choice, resulting in damage to the airfield.[12] It was subsequently rehabilitated in 1970 by the Indonesian Army Corps of Engineers.[12][13] During this period, the airport began serving missionary flights to rural areas of West Papua, operated by organizations such as Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and the Association Mission Aviation (AMA).[14] In the 1980s, the airport also became a hub for Merpati Nusantara Airlines for its inter-Papuan network, serving major cities such as Jayapura and Sorong, as well as pioneer routes to Numfor, Ransiki, and Wasior.[15]

Tensions frequently arose between airport authorities and local residents over the use of the airport. On 9 September 2013, all flights at the airport were cancelled after local residents blocked access to the facility due to a land dispute with the government, claiming that the airport had been built on their customary land.[16] The residents demanded that the Governor of West Papua and the Regent of Manokwari immediately pay Rp 80 billion in compensation for the land.[16] Further disputes arose in 2015 when local residents opposed the planned extension of the airport’s runway.[17]

In 2025, a proposal was put forward to rename the airport Ottow–Geissler Airport, in honor of Carl Wilhelm Ottow and Johann Gottlob Geissler, two German missionaries who introduced Christianity to the people of Manokwari in the 19th century.[18] The Manokwari Regency government has submitted the proposal and is currently awaiting approval from the Ministry of Transportation.[18]

Facilities and development

Aerial view of the airport
ATC tower

Currently, the airport has a single passenger terminal with an area of 4,359 m², capable of accommodating up to 612,857 passengers annually.[1] It is also equipped with a 600 m² cargo terminal, aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) facilities, and an administrative building measuring 453 m².[1] A new passenger terminal is planned, with an initial area of 12,000 m², expandable to 18,000 m² in the future.[19] The new terminal will feature a modern architectural design, with three jet bridges, and will also include additional supporting infrastructure.[20] As of 2025, construction of the new terminal is still awaiting the completion of land clearing.[21] In total, the construction of the new passenger terminal and its supporting facilities is estimated to cost around 7 trillion rupiah and will be supported by Chinese investment.[20]

The airport has two aprons: one measuring 181 m × 68 m and the other 323 m × 85 m.[1] The runway was extended from 2,000 m to 2,300 m in 2024, enabling the airport to accommodate narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737-900ER and Airbus A320.[22] The runway is planned to be further extended to 2,500 m and eventually up to 3,000 m in the future, enabling the airport to accommodate wide-body aircraft and compete with other airports in Papua, such as Sentani International Airport in Jayapura and Domine Eduard Osok Airport in Sorong.[23] A new, larger apron and upgrades to the air navigation system are also planned.[23]

In the future, the area surrounding Rendani Airport is planned to be developed into an aerocity.[24] Proposed developments include hotels, convention centers, commercial facilities, and light industrial logistics hubs around the airport.[24]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Batik Air Sorong[25]
Lion Air Jayapura,[26] Makassar,[27] Sorong[28]
Super Air Jet Makassar[29]
Susi Air Anggi,[30] Ayawasi,[30] Babo,[30] Bintuni,[31] Kambuaya,[30] Kebar,[30] Merdey,[30] Numfor,[30] Teminabuan,[30] Wasior[30]
Wings Air Kaimana,[32] Nabire[33]

Statistics

Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics
Year
Passengers
handled
Passenger
% change
Cargo
(tonnes)
Cargo
% change
Aircraft
movements
Aircraft
% change
2006 252,870 Steady 1,685.47 Steady 5,834 Steady
2007 210,112 Decrease 16.91 1,519.60 Decrease 9.84 7,053 Increase 20.89
2008 113,778 Decrease 45.85 11,982.02 Increase 688.50 6,090 Decrease 13.65
2009 224,313 Increase 97.15 801.87 Decrease 93.31 8,124 33.40
2010 325,606 Increase 45.16 902.29 Increase 12.52 8,617 Increase 6.07
2011 172,404 Decrease 47.05 579.09 Decrease 35.82 5,794 Decrease 32.76
2012 336,374 Increase 95.11 818.58 Increase 41.36 7,019 Increase 21.14
2013 341,186 Increase 1.43 929.48 Increase 13.55 6,339 Decrease 9.69
2014 446,494 Increase 30.87 1,648.63 Increase 77.37 9,328 Increase 47.15
2015 460,536 Increase 3.14 1,622.55 Decrease 1.58 9,322 Decrease 0.06
2016 525,158 Increase 14.03 1,563.32 Decrease 3.65 8,884 Decrease 4.70
2017 609,090 Increase 15.98 3,012.77 Increase 92.72 9,213 Increase 3.70
2018 711,179 Increase 16.76 2,849.56 Decrease 5.42 10,302 Increase 11.82
2019 548,109 Decrease 22.93 2,678.93 Decrease 5.99 7,607 Decrease 26.16
2020 342,778 Decrease 37.46 2,712.17 Increase 1.24 4,651 Decrease 38.86
2021 430,782 Increase 25.67 3,252.36 Increase 19.92 5,967 Increase 28.29
2022 475,406 Increase 10.36 2,627.31 Decrease 19.22 5,527 Decrease 7.37
2023 509,045 Increase 7.08 3,079.64 Increase 17.22 6,092 Increase 10.22
2024 476,804 Decrease 6.33 2,986.46 Decrease 3.03 6,129 Increase 0.61
Source: DGCA, BPS[2][34]

Accidents and incidents

  • On 13 April 2010, Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 836, a Boeing 737-300 (registered PK-MDE) overran the runway on landing. All 103 passengers and six crew escaped alive.[35]
  • On 31 May 2017, Sriwijaya Air Flight 570, a Boeing 737-300 operating from Sorong to Manokwari, skidded off the runway upon landing at Rendani Airport. There were no fatalities among the 146 passengers; however, one child sustained a broken bone.[36][37]
  • On 13 March 2018, the right landing gear of Batik Air Flight 6155, an Airbus A320 operating from Manokwari to Sorong, veered approximately 70 cm off the runway while turning during taxi in preparation for takeoff at Rendani Airport. None of the passengers or crew were injured; however, the airport was temporarily closed to allow for the safe evacuation of the aircraft.[38]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Bandar Udara Rendani" (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. ^ a b Ronsumbre, Adolof (2019-12-30). "Memitoskan Mitos (Konsep Legalitas Kepemilikan Tanah Adat di Kabupaten Manokwari Provinsi Papua Barat)". Masyarakat Indonesia. 45 (2): 205–218. doi:10.14203/jmi.v45i2.888. ISSN 2502-5694.
  4. ^ Drea, Edward J. (1992). MacArthur's ULTRA: Codebreaking and the War Against Japan, 1942-1945. University Press of Kansas. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-7006-0504-0.
  5. ^ PacificWrecks.com. "Pacific Wrecks - Manokwari Airfield (Rendani Airport) West Papua Province, Indonesia". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  6. ^ Casey, Hugh J. (1947). Engineers of the Southwest Pacific, 1941-1945. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 185.
  7. ^ a b c Gailey, Harry (2007-12-18). MacArthur's Victory: The War in New Guinea, 1943-1944. Random House Publishing Group. p. 245. ISBN 978-0-307-41593-6.
  8. ^ a b Smith, Robert Ross (1953). The Approach to the Philippines. Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army. p. 425.
  9. ^ a b Zuhdi, Susanto; Lauder, Multamia R. M. T. (2019). Sejarah sosial Papua (in Indonesian). Direktorat Sejarah, Direktorat Jenderal Kebudayaan, Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. p. 226. ISBN 978-623-7092-57-5.
  10. ^ Sumbodo (2018-03-01). "NNGLM De Kroonduif, Membuka Jalur Udara di Papua". Aviation History of Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  11. ^ "Terbang sebagai media transportasi di Nieuw-Guinea | Stichting Papua Erfgoed". www.papuaheritage.org (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  12. ^ a b Subroto, Hendro (2009). Sintong Panjaitan, perjalanan seorang prajurit para komando (in Indonesian). Penerbit Buku Kompas. p. 178. ISBN 978-979-709-408-9.
  13. ^ Barat, Indonesia Departemen Dalam Negeri Sektor Chusus Irian; Jaya, Indonesia Departemen Dalam Negeri Sektor Khusus Irian (1970). Laporan pembangunan lima tahun Irian Barat (in Indonesian). p. 87.
  14. ^ Monografi daerah Irian Jaya (in Indonesian). Proyek Media Kebudayaan, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. 1980. p. 36.
  15. ^ Project Information: Potential Investment in Irian Jaya. Investment Coordinating Board of the First Level Region of Irian Jaya. 1984.
  16. ^ a b "Bandara Rendani Manokwari Ditutup". antarafoto.com (in Indonesian). 8 September 2013. Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  17. ^ Kakisina, Ernes B. (2015-03-12). "Masyarakat adat tolak perpanjangan landasan Bandara Manokwari". Antara News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  18. ^ a b Christabel, Amanda (16 January 2025). "Bandara Rendani di Manokwari Mau Ganti Nama Jadi Ottow-Geissler". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  19. ^ Weking, Fransiskus Salu (5 October 2024). "UPBU Rendani Manokwari usulkan pembangunan terminal penumpang baru". ANTARA News Papua Tengah (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  20. ^ a b "Papua Barat Tawarkan Proyek Pengembangan Bandara Rendani ke Investor Tiongkok Senilai Rp7 Triliun". merdeka.com (in Indonesian). 2026-04-11. Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  21. ^ Ichsan, Ali Nur (3 January 2025). "Kemenhub bangun terminal Bandara Rendani saat pembebasan lahan selesai". ANTARA News Papua Tengah (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  22. ^ Ichsan, Ali Nur (17 April 2024). "Landasan pacu 2.300 meter Bandara Rendani digunakan setelah AIP terbit". ANTARA News Papua Tengah (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  23. ^ a b Tiwan, Fransiskus Irianto (27 September 2025). "Bupati Manokwari Bertemu Dirjen Perhubungan Udara Bahas Pengembangan Bandara Rendani". Tribunpapuabarat.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  24. ^ a b "Bandara Rendani Disiapkan Jadi Aerocity, Manokwari Bidik Pusat Pertumbuhan Baru Papua Barat". TopbNews (in Indonesian). 2025-09-27. Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  25. ^ "Batik Air Flight from Rendani Airport to Domine Eduard Osok Airport". www.airpaz.com.
  26. ^ Widyanti, Ni Nyoman Wira (19 January 2022). "Lion Air Akan Layani Rute Manokwari-Jayapura PP, Harga Mulai Rp 484.300". KOMPAS (in Indonesian).
  27. ^ "Lion Air Flight from Rendani Airport to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport". www.airpaz.com.
  28. ^ Sihombing, Rolando Fransiscus (29 July 2022). "Sempat Gangguan, Pesawat Lion Air Sorong-Manokwari 2 Kali Mendarat di Biak". Detik.com (in Indonesian).
  29. ^ "Yuk Jelajahi Indonesia Timur! Super Air Jet Buka Rute ke Makassar-Sorong-Manokwari". travel.detik. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Susi Air Hadirkan Koneksi Baru! Jadwal Penerbangan Perintis Papua Barat Resmi Berlaku". Media Pro Rakyat (in Indonesian). 2025-01-02. Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  31. ^ "Dua Pilihan Transportasi Baru di Bintuni untuk Perjalanan ke Manokwari: Susi Air atau Taksi Hi Lux". Media Pro Rakyat (in Indonesian). 2024-05-06. Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  32. ^ "Wings Air: Kaimana-Manokwari Flights Starting August 10, 2024". rri.co.id. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  33. ^ "Direct flights from Manokwari to Nabire". www.flightconnections.com.
  34. ^ "Statistik Angkatan Udara 2019" (PDF). DGCA. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  35. ^ Hradecky, Simon. "Accident: Merpati B733 at Manokwari on Apr 13th 2010, overran runway and broke up in river". Aviation Herald. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  36. ^ Arnold, Hans (31 May 2017). "Sriwijaya Tergelincir di Manokwari, Rem Blong Jadi Penyebabnya". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  37. ^ "Sriwijaya Air Tergelincir di Bandara Rendani, 146 Penumpang Selama". KOMPAS (in Indonesian). 31 May 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
  38. ^ Pradana, Rio Sandy (13 March 2019). "Batik Air Keluar Landasan di Manokwari". ekonomi.bisnis.com (in Indonesian).
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