Mopah International Airport

Mopah Airport^[1] (IATA: MKQ, ICAO: WAKK) is located in Merauke, South Papua, Indonesia. The airport is Indonesia's second easternmost airport after Sentani International Airport in Sentani. The airport serves as the main gateway to several tourist destinations around Merauke, most notably Wasur National Park.

Mopah Airport Bandar Udara Mopah
IATA: MKQ ICAO: WAKK WMO: 97980
Summary
Airport type	Public-use / Private-owned
Owner	Government of Indonesia
Operator	Ministry of Transportation
Serves	Merauke
Location	Merauke, South Papua, Indonesia
Opened	28 June 1943; 81 years ago (1943-06-28)
Time zone	WIT (UTC+09:00)
Elevation AMSL	10 ft / 3 m
Coordinates	08°31′13″S 140°25′06″E
Website	www.mopahinternational.com
Map
MKQ/WAKK Location in South Papua Show map of South Papua MKQ/WAKK Location in Indonesia Show map of Indonesia
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 16/34 2,500 8,202 Asphalt

History

No. 86 Squadron RAAF about to take off in their Kittyhawk fighters at Merauke in April 1944

The original air strip measured 150 by 6,000 feet (46 m × 1,829 m) and was completed on 28 June 1943 by the Seabees of the 55th Naval Construction Battalion during World War II as part of Naval Base Merauke.^[2] The airfield had a No. 86 Squadron RAAF and a few bombers assigned to do daily reconnaissance and bombing missions.^[2] After the Surrender of Japan in 1945, allied forces departed the airfield, and military control of the airport was handed over to the government of Dutch East Indies. The airport was then managed by the Dutch organization Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA). The Dutch handed the control of the airport to the Indonesian government in 1962, when they signed the New York Agreement and left New Guinea.^[3]

International flight

This airport has international status around June 1990, when Air Niugini operated a weekly direct international flight to Daru Island and it was closed seven years later due to the economic crisis in Southeast Asia.

Current phase

Mopah Airport after first phase renovation in 2016

With the continued increase in tourist visits, the activity of airlines using the airport also increased. The terminal building was extensively renovated in 2015 to increase its capacity. The airport terminal was expanded from just 1,972 square metres (21,230 sq ft) to 4,634 square metres (49,880 sq ft). It can now carry around 200,000 passengers annually.^[4] The new check-in counter and baggage claim area has a more minimalist interior than the old one. The airport's parking lot was also expanded to cater more vehicles.^[5] The airport's toilet was also renovated extensively. The boarding lounge was also expanded and now contains 381 seats for passengers.^[6] Outside the terminal building, a canopy has now been installed at the drop off location so that passengers avoid the heat and rain when they arrive. In one corner of the terminal, an ATM and a food court were built. To add to the beauty and comfort for the passengers, the area around the terminal has been planted with trees and green grass. In total, the rehabilitation and expansion of the terminal building cost around Rp 16 billion (US $1,200,000).^[7]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Airlines	Destinations
Garuda Indonesia	Jayapura
Lion Air	Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta,[a] Jayapura, Makassar
Susi Air	Agats, Bomakia, Kepi, Kimam, Mindiptanah, Okaba, Senggo, Wanam
Trigana Air	Agats, Tanah Merah

1. Jakarta is continuation of Jayapura flight as same flight number

Accidents and incidents

• On 26 January 2023, Lion Air Flight 797 was damaged when the right wing hit a jet bridge when the aircraft is taxiing to the runway for takeoff. The police stated that the pilot likely couldn't see the jet bridge because of the size of the aircraft.^[8]