Jetstar Asia will launch direct flights from Singapore to Labuan Bajo, the Indonesian city considered the “gateway” to Komodo National Park, the corporate said.
The park, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, is home to several thousand Komodo dragons, the most important species of lizard on the 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 appearing in rare cases. They have been known to attack humans.
The park, which stretches across several islands in Indonesia, is accessible by boat from Labuan Bajo.
Jetstar Asia, a Singapore-based low-cost airline, announced that twice-weekly flights to Labuan Bajo will begin on March 20. The airline can be the one airline operating this route.
Lim Ching Kiat, Changi Airport Group's executive vice chairman of air hub and cargo development, said in a press release announcing the brand new flights: “This is the first time that Changi Airport will be directly connected to this stunning destination.”
One of the “Five New Balis”
Labuan Bajo is popular with divers and was named one in every of the ten latest Balis in 2016. This is a government plan to advertise other destinations in Indonesia beyond Bali.
After the Covid-19 pandemic, this system was reduced to “Five New Balis,” a listing that features Borobudur, Mandalika, Lake Toba, Likupang and Labuan Bajo.
The city has long been considered difficult to achieve, and lots of international travelers selected to go to the realm by cruise ship. International flights to Labuan Bajo Airport, named “Komodo International Airport”, began in 2024 with the introduction of AirAsia flights from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Jetstar Asia CEO John Simeone called Labuan Bajo a “hidden gem” in Indonesia and an “incredible vacation hotspot.”
But some conservation organizations say increasing tourism is endangering Komodo dragon habitat, which has been endangered since 2019 International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Komodo National Park officials are considering a plan to shut the park repeatedly and at short notice this 12 months – even for only a day – to mitigate the negative impact of tourism and encourage visitors to explore activities outside the park, it said local media.
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