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Jetstar Asia will launch direct flights connecting Singapore to Labuan Bajo, an Indonesian city considered the “gateway” to Komodo National Park.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, the park is home to several thousand Komodo dragons, the largest species of lizard in the world, according to UNESCO.
Komodo National Park is the only place where these lizards are found in the wild, which adds to the mystery of the reptiles, which on rare occasions they are known to attack humans.
The park, which is spread over several islands in Indonesia, can be reached from Labuan Bajo by boat.
Jetstar Asia, a low-cost carrier based in Singapore, said that flights to Labuan Bajo will begin twice weekly on March 20. The airline will be the only carrier operating this route.
Lim Ching Kiat, Changi Airport Group’s executive vice-president of air hub and cargo development, said in a press release announcing the new flights: “This is the first time Changi Airport is directly connected to this wonderful destination.”
One of the “Five New Balis”
Popular among divers, Labuan Bajo was named one of the 10 new Bali in 2016, the government plans to promote other destinations in Indonesia beyond Bali.
After the Covid-19 pandemic, the program was reduced to five new Balis, which include Borobudur, Mandalika, Lake Toba, Likupang and Labuan Bajo.
The city has long been considered difficult to reach, and many foreign travelers choose to visit the area on cruise ships. International flights to Labuan Bajo Airport, named “Komodo International Airport”, began in 2024 with the launch of AirAsia flights from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Jetstar Asia CEO John Simeone called Labuan Bajo a “hidden gem” in Indonesia and an “incredible vacation spot.”
However, some conservation groups say the rise in tourism is threatening the habitat of Komodo dragons, which have been threatened with extinction since 2019, reports International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Komodo National Park officials are considering a plan for regular, short-term park closures — even for a day — this year to mitigate the negative effects of tourism and encourage visitors to explore activities outside the park, according to local media.
