โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Douw Aturure Airport (NBX), also known as the New Nabire Airport, is a significant regional facility serving the city of Nabire, the capital of the newly formed Central Papua province in Indonesia. The terminal is a modern and spacious building that has recently replaced the old Nabire Airport to handle an increasing volume of domestic flights, connecting the region with major Papuan hubs like Jayapura and Biak, as well as Makassar in Sulawesi. it is a critical gateway for the local community and for those involved in the region's vital mining, forestry, and administrative sectors.
Inside the terminal, passengers can find standard Indonesian airport amenities, including check-in counters, a comfortable waiting lounge, and a variety of retail and dining options offering local Papuan snacks and international refreshments. The facility is designed to provide efficient processing for regional travelers, offering a significant upgrade in comfort and capacity compared to the former airstrip. The airport's location near the Cenderawasih Bay offers travelers unique views of the coastal landscapes and the dense rainforests of Central Papua during arrival and departure.
Ground transportation from the airport to Nabire city center is readily available via local taxis and pre-arranged shuttle services. The airport plays a vital role in the regional economy, supporting the growth and connectivity of the Central Papua province and providing a professional welcome to business and leisure travelers. It remains an essential infrastructure point for the development of the region, ensuring that this remote and resource-rich part of Indonesia remains accessible by air for both industrial and social needs.
๐ Connection Tips
Douw Aturure Airport (NBX) began full operations in February 2024, replacing the old Nabire Airport as Central Papua's primary aviation hub with significantly improved facilities and expanded connectivity. Official airport taxis charge approximately 150,000-200,000 IDR to the city center (20-30 minute journey), while ojeks (motorcycle taxis) offer a more economical option at 50,000-75,000 IDR for passengers traveling light. The government's planned runway extension to 2,500 meters (scheduled for completion in late 2024/early 2025) will enable Boeing 737 operations, significantly improving connectivity to Jakarta and other major Indonesian cities beyond the current ATR and smaller aircraft limitations.
Wings Air operates regular flights to Rendani (Manokwari), Timika, and Sentani (Jayapura), while Smart Aviation provides essential services to remote interior destinations including Enarotali, Ilaga, Mulia, and other highland settlements primarily serving mining, forestry, and government operations in the mountainous interior regions. Many hotels and mining/forestry companies provide shuttle services for their guests and employees, which should be arranged in advance through accommodation providers or employers. Travelers should carry sufficient Indonesian Rupiah cash as ATM availability is limited, and ensure proper documentation for travel to this special autonomy region where additional permits may be required for certain activities.
The airport's strategic location in Wanggar District, approximately 15 kilometers from Nabire city center, requires ground transportation planning as public transit options are limited. Weather considerations are crucial for flight planning in this equatorial region, with afternoon thunderstorms common between November and April potentially causing delays or diversions to alternate airfields.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
150
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Apalapsili Airport (AAS) is a very small, remote airfield located in the mountainous region of Highland Papua, Indonesia. Primarily serving missionary flights, humanitarian aid, and occasional private charters, it acts as a critical lifeline connecting isolated communities with larger towns. The airport's terminal facilities are extremely rudimentary, often consisting of no more than a simple, open-air waiting area or a basic, unstaffed building. The layout is minimalist, with direct access from a small landing strip to the boarding area, which is usually a designated spot on the tarmac.
Security procedures at AAS are minimal, consistent with its classification as a small, remote regional airfield. Formal security checkpoints with advanced screening equipment are not present. Instead, security is typically a matter of visual checks, adherence to light aviation safety protocols, and direct coordination with pilots or humanitarian organizations. There are no significant wait times for any checks. As a domestic airfield, and often a frontier one, there are no immigration or customs facilities on site; these functions would be handled at larger, designated international entry points for any incoming international travelers or cargo.
Amenities at Apalapsili Airport are exceptionally sparse. Passengers should not expect any airline lounges, dedicated dining facilities, or retail shops. Any available provisions would be extremely basic, possibly from a very small local vendor in a nearby village, and travelers are strongly advised to bring all necessary supplies, including food, water, and personal items. Seating in the waiting area is sparse and functional, often outdoors. Accessibility features are rudimentary, primarily consisting of ground-level access only. Travelers requiring assistance must coordinate thoroughly in advance with their charter operator or local community contacts.
๐ Connection Tips
Connecting through Apalapsili Airport requires coordination within Indonesia's highland Papua aviation network, where this remote Yalimo Regency airstrip operates exclusively with charter services from Mission Aviation Fellowship, Associated Mission Aviation, and Susi Air serving isolated communities accessible only by air. Located at 3,883 meters elevation with a single 17/35 runway carved from mountain terrain, the facility serves villages dependent on aviation for essential supplies, medical evacuations, and missionary support, with over 250 indigenous languages spoken across communities relying on these flights for connections to larger regional centers.
Transfers from Apalapsili require pre-arranged ground coordination with local village leaders, missionary organizations, or tour operators, as no commercial transport services exist in this roadless highland region where traditional footpaths and occasional motorbikes provide the only surface mobility options. Connections to Indonesia's commercial aviation network necessitate charter flights to larger airstrips like Wamena Airport or eventually to Jayapura's Sentani Airport for access to domestic routes operated by Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and Wings Air. Weather conditions in the central highlands create significant operational challenges, with afternoon cloud build-ups and mountain turbulence frequently closing VFR-only operations without warning.
Missionary aviation operators coordinate most connections through their network of six bases across Papua, with AMA operating under Part 135 charter certificates and MAF maintaining nine aircraft from five strategic locations to serve this region's aviation-dependent communities. Fuel, medical supplies, and passengers must be carefully weight-balanced due to the high-altitude performance limitations of single-engine aircraft typically used for highland operations. Alternative routing during weather closures may require multi-day delays or overland trekking to neighboring airstrips, making flexible scheduling essential for any traveler connecting through this frontier aviation hub serving one of Earth's most isolated populations.
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