KBRN, Mataram: Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport (BIZAM) in Lombok has officially been designated as a new national aviation hub, particularly serving Central and Eastern Indonesia. Licensing and operational procedures are expected to begin shortly.

The designation follows a meeting between West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal and Lion Group founder Rusdi Kirana in Jakarta, according to Lalu Muhammad Faozal, acting regional secretary of NTB.

“This achievement far exceeds the initial target set by the NTB Provincial Administration,” Faozal said on Friday, August 8, 2025.

He explained that the governor had originally aimed to add four domestic routes and one international route in the first year. “Instead, Lombok has now emerged as a new aviation hub, opening the door to significantly more route expansions in the future,” Faozal added.

Lion Group, one of Indonesia’s largest airline conglomerates, operates a wide network of carriers including Lion Air, Wings Air, Batik Air, Super Air Jet, Malindo Air, and Lion Thai.

As an initial step, Lion Group plans to launch six new flight routes between August and October 2025. These include Lombok–Labuan Bajo, Lombok–Kupang, Lombok–Yogyakarta (Adisutjipto Airport), Lombok–Malang, Lombok–Jakarta (afternoon service), and Lombok–Perth, marking the first international route under the new designation.

However, the planned Lombok–Bangkok (Don Mueang) route may be postponed due to ongoing security concerns in Thailand, Faozal noted.

The move is part of a broader strategy by the NTB Provincial Administration to enhance air connectivity and accessibility across the region. Governor Iqbal has also maintained active communication with other airlines, including Pelita Air, AirAsia, Garuda Indonesia, and several international carriers.

Yusron Hadi, head of the NTB Communications and Informatics Agency, said Lombok’s new role as a hub would accelerate tourism, creative economy development, and investment by improving access to both domestic and international destinations.

“The more flights we have, the smoother the flow of tourists,” Yusron said. “This will directly boost the local economy.”

Beyond strengthening NTB’s strategic position on Indonesia’s aviation map, Lombok’s status as a national hub offers a new gateway to showcase the region’s natural beauty and economic potential to the world.

“This is a major step forward for NTB,” Yusron added. “It elevates our national standing and will have a significant impact on our economic growth.” ***

Translator: Misni Parjiati

Editor: Lasti Martina