Jetstar Asia will launch direct flights linking Singapore to Labuan Bajo, the Indonesian town considered the “gateway” to Komodo National Park, the corporate said.
The park, a UNESCO Heritage Site inscribed in 1991, is home to several thousand Komodo dragons, the most important species of lizard on this planet, in line with UNESCO.
Komodo National Park is the one place where these lizards are present in the wild, adding to the mystique of the reptiles which, on rare occasions, have been known to attack humans.
The park, which is spread across several islands in Indonesia, is accessible from Labuan Bajo via boat.
Jetstar Asia, a low-cost carrier based in Singapore, said twice-weekly flights to Labuan Bajo will start on March 20. The airline will probably be the one carrier operating this route.
Lim Ching Kiat, Changi Airport Group’s executive vice chairman for air hub and cargo development, said in a press release announcing the brand new flights: “That is the primary time Changi Airport is directly connected to this stunning destination.”
Considered one of ‘Five Latest Balis’
Popular with divers, Labuan Bajo was named certainly one of 10 Latest Balis in 2016, a government plan to advertise other destinations in Indonesia beyond Bali.
After the Covid-19 pandemic, this system was reduced to Five Latest Balis, an inventory that features Borobudur, Mandalika, Lake Toba, Likupang and Labuan Bajo.
The town has long been considered hard to achieve, with many international travelers opting to go to the world by cruise ship. International flights to Labuan Bajo’s airport, named “Komodo International Airport,” began in 2024, with the launch of AirAsia flights from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Jetstar Asia CEO John Simeone called Labuan Bajo a “hidden gem” in Indonesia and an “incredible holiday hotspot.”
Nonetheless, some conservation organizations say increased tourism threatens the habitat of Komodo dragons, which has been endangered since 2019, in line with the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Officials at Komodo National Park are considering a plan to institute regular, short-term closures of the park — whilst short as at some point — this yr to mitigate negative effects of tourism and to encourage visitors to explore activities beyond the park, in line with local media.
