David Constantijn Saudale Airport , formerly known as Lekunik Airport, is a domestic airport serving Ba'a, the capital of Rote Ndao Regency in East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, and the largest town on Rote Island. The airport is regarded as Indonesia’s southernmost airport and holds strategic importance due to its proximity to the Australia–Indonesia border, which is located just south of Rote. It is named after David Constantijn Saudale, the first regent of Rote Ndao Regency, in recognition of his contributions to both the airport’s construction and the development of the region, while its former name is derived from the village in which it is located. Situated approximately 5 km (3.1 miles) from Ba'a town center, it is the only airport on Rote Island and serves as a primary point of entry to the island. Currently, the airport operates flights to only two destinations: Kupang, the capital and largest city of East Nusa Tenggara, and Savu Island. These routes are served by Susi Air and Wings Air.
History Prior to the construction of the airport, access to Rote Island was limited to sea transportation. Residents traveling to Kupang, the provincial capital, had to rely on boats. At the time, increasing missionary activities on the island prompted local communities to propose the development of an airport to improve accessibility. To support the construction of the airport, the local rajas (traditional chiefs) of Rote allocated portions of their land for its development.
Lekunik Airport began construction in 1969 under the leadership of David Constantijn Saudale, who was then serving as a special representative of the regent of Kupang Regency for Rote (koordinatorschap)—of which Rote was formerly a part—prior to the formation of Rote Ndao Regency in 2002. He mobilized local communities to support the project, reflecting strong local initiative in its development. The airport was completed and officially began operations in 1976, initially featuring a runway measuring 900 m × 27 m. The first aircraft to land at the airport was a Douglas DC-3 Dakota carrying missionaries to Rote. Following its inauguration, the airport began serving pioneer flights to the island.
In 2010, the airport was renamed to its current name in honor of David Constantijn Saudale, recognizing his contributions to the airport’s construction as well as his broader role in the development of Rote.
Currently, flights to Rote are very limited, with only two routes—Kupang and Savu Island—served by Wings Air and Susi Air. To boost tourism, there are plans to introduce additional routes to major destinations such as Labuan Bajo, Alor, and Sumba.
Facilities and development The airport features a runway measuring 1,650 m × 30 m, along with a 75 m × 17 m taxiway and an apron of 120 m × 85 m. It is capable of accommodating small aircraft such as the ATR 72. The passenger terminal covers an area of 1,170 square meters. Supporting facilities include an operational complex comprising office buildings, a Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) navigation facility, a workshop, an air traffic control (ATC) tower, a PKP-PK (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) building, and a PH building.
The airport is scheduled for further development in the coming years. The total land required for the expansion is 64.60 hectares; however, only 51.40 hectares are currently available, leaving 13.20 hectares yet to be acquired by the local government. This additional land is planned for terminal parking facilities and access roads. To support the development, the government allocated a budget of Rp 49,160,428,000 in 2018. The funding is intended for runway resurfacing, interior terminal renovations, drainage improvements, construction of operational buildings, road upgrades, and other supporting infrastructure.
Airlines and destinations
Statistics +Annual passenger numbers and aircraft statistics20065,63329.4525020071,171 79.210.47 8.4046 81.602008632 46.030.53 12.7716 65.2220092,031 221.363.14 492.4576 375.0020102,217 9.160.74 76.43218 186.8420111,506 32.072.44 229.73180 17.4320122,986 98.2767.67 2673.36162 10.0020133,337 11.75N/A288 77.7820144,887 46.450.93372 29.17201525,002 411.600.13 86.02572 53.76201641,729 66.900.65 400.00758 32.52201745,062 7.9946.95 7123.08996 31.40201867,131 48.9740.10 14.591,367 37.25201954,931 18.1718.78 53.171,009 26.19202028,712 47.7315.82 15.76598 40.73202125,066 12.7029.19 84.51928 55.18202219,800 21.0126.94 7.71589 36.5320233,349 83.091.60 94.06495 15.9620244,245 26.750.02 98.75616 24.44Source: DGCA, BPS References