Jayapura Pushes Sentani Airport's International Routes for Revenue

RRI.CO.ID, Jayapura - The Jayapura Regency Administration in Papua Province is intensifying its efforts to transform Sentani Airport into an international gateway for increasing Regional Original Revenue (PAD).

Speaking in Sentani on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Jayapura Regent Yunus Wonda emphasized that opening international routes would stimulate local economic growth. He noted that providing foreign tourists with direct access to Papua would bypass the need for domestic transit.

This increased accessibility is expected to deliver a significant positive impact on the tourism sector and the broader community's economy. To realize this vision, the local administration is seeking active cooperation from the national airport operator.

"For this reason, we hope that PT Angkasa Pura can support the Jayapura Regency Administration, so that Sentani Airport can serve international flights," said Wonda, as quoted by Antara.

Beyond infrastructure and tourism, the Regent highlighted the necessity of empowering Indigenous Papuans (OAP), specifically those with traditional land rights (hak ulayat). He proposed achieving this by integrating them directly into the airport’s workforce.

"By employing indigenous Papuan people at Sentani Airport, we are not only improving the quality of Papuan human resources, but also providing direct benefits to the local indigenous community," he added.

Responding to these aspirations, PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia has affirmed its commitment to indigenous representation within its operations. General Manager of Sentani Airport, I Nyoman Noer Rohim, confirmed that the company prioritizes Papuan youth during recruitment processes.

“We will certainly involve Papuan people, and currently, several Papuan man and women are already employees of Angkasa Pura, although some are stationed at other airports across Indonesia," explained Rohim.

Regarding the proposed international expansion, Rohim expressed the airport's readiness to support the plan while ensuring that all technical, security, and regulatory frameworks are strictly maintained. ***