The Nabire Airport expansion is emerging as one of the Papua Tengah (Central Papua) provincial government’s key infrastructure priorities, with authorities preparing Rp80 billion in regional funding and seeking additional support from the Ministry of Transportation to finance a wider development program estimated at Rp500 billion.
The plan comes as Nabire continues to serve as the capital of Papua Tengah, increasing the importance of reliable air transportation for people, government services, businesses, and the movement of goods across one of Indonesia’s most geographically challenging provinces.
The proposal was formally raised by Papua Tengah Deputy Governor Deinas Geley during a meeting with Deputy Minister of Transportation Suntana and officials from the ministry’s directorates in Jakarta on September 14, 2026. Geley said the provincial government was ready to contribute, but central government support would be necessary to complete the broader program.
The discussion was not limited to one runway.
It covered airport facilities, a new land transportation terminal, improvements to pioneer airports in remote districts, and road safety infrastructure. Taken together, the proposals point to a broader effort to strengthen the transportation network linking Nabire with communities across Papua Tengah.
From Provincial Capital to Transportation Hub
Nabire’s role has changed significantly since Papua Tengah became a province.
As the provincial capital, the city has become an increasingly important center for government administration, public services, and economic activity.
That change has also increased demand for transportation.
The provincial government argues that the existing aviation infrastructure needs to grow alongside the region’s administrative and economic requirements. ANTARA reported that the increased need for air transportation following Nabire’s role as the provincial capital was one of the reasons behind the proposed airport development.
For Papua Tengah, the issue is particularly important because geography limits the practicality of relying on roads alone.
Mountainous terrain, long distances, and remote settlements make aviation a critical component of regional connectivity. In some areas, pioneer flights provide an essential link between communities and larger administrative centers.
Improving Nabire’s main airport can therefore have effects beyond Nabire itself.
It can strengthen the provincial gateway through which people, government officials, commercial goods, and other supplies move between the capital and other parts of Papua Tengah.
Coordination Meeting Sets the Plan in Motion
The latest phase of the airport expansion plan took shape during Geley’s meeting with Suntana in Jakarta on September 14.
Geley told the Ministry of Transportation that Papua Tengah was prepared to allocate approximately Rp80 billion for the development and expansion of Douw Aturure Airport.
However, the estimated overall requirement is much larger.
The provincial government estimates a need for approximately Rp500 billion to support the broader airport development. Geley therefore requested additional funding from the Ministry of Transportation to cover the portion that the provincial budget cannot finance.
The request is a key agenda item in the meeting with the Deputy Minister of Transportation and the Ministry’s directorate generals. “We hope the ministry can help,” Geley said, as reported by Jubi.
The request reflects a division of responsibilities between regional and central government.
The provincial government is putting forward its funding while seeking national support for infrastructure whose scale and strategic importance extend beyond the capacity of the regional budget.
A Broader National Commitment
The airport proposal is also connected to President Prabowo Subianto’s government’s wider infrastructure agenda in eastern Indonesia.
According to Geley, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka had visited Nabire in April 2026 and reviewed the development of Douw Aturure Airport.
Geley said the vice president had stressed the importance of developing the airport in line with increasing transportation needs in Papua Tengah.
Jubi and RakyatPos also reported that the airport and Nabire seaport were among the infrastructure projects expected to receive attention from the central government following the vice president’s visit.
For the provincial government, the visit provided an additional basis for pushing the airport project forward.
The next step is funding coordination and technical implementation.
The Runway Is at the Center of the Expansion
One of the most important components of the plan is the airport’s runway.
ANTARA reported that Douw Aturure Airport currently has a runway measuring approximately 2,500 meters in length and 30 meters in width.
According to Alrido Simanjuntak, acting head of the Class II Douw Aturure Airport Operations Unit, the ideal runway width would be 45 meters to accommodate wider aircraft.
The proposed development therefore involves more than simply maintaining existing infrastructure.
The provincial government wants the runway and supporting facilities upgraded so that the airport can better accommodate larger-capacity aircraft.
Timika Express reported that the provincial government is also pushing for runway expansion and widening, with the runway expected to become more than 40 meters wide under the proposal discussed with the Ministry of Transportation.
The exact technical configuration will depend on the final planning and implementation process. What is clear from the sources is that runway capacity is considered one of the central requirements for the airport’s future development.
That matters because aircraft capacity directly affects the potential volume of passengers and cargo that can move through an airport.
A stronger runway and supporting facilities could therefore provide greater flexibility for aviation services as demand grows.
Beyond Passengers: Moving Goods Across Papua Tengah
The airport expansion is also being presented as a logistics project.
Geley stressed that the airport’s importance extends beyond passenger transportation. Improved aviation infrastructure is expected to support connectivity and the distribution of goods throughout Papua Tengah.
This objective holds particular significance in a province where large distances and challenging terrain separate communities.
Goods entering Nabire can include food, construction materials, consumer products, and supplies for government and public services. At the same time, local agricultural and other products need reliable transportation to reach markets.
Better connectivity can help reduce the isolation of communities that remain dependent on air transportation.
It can also strengthen the role of Nabire as a distribution point.
The provincial government is considering the airport as a component of a network rather than a stand-alone facility, according to its wider transportation strategy.
New Land Transport Terminals Also Planned
The September meeting with the Ministry of Transportation also produced discussions about land transportation infrastructure.
The Papua Tengah government proposed the development of Type A and Type B transportation terminals.
According to Jubi and RakyatPos, the Ministry of Transportation asked the provincial government to prepare approximately five hectares of land for the planned terminals.
The request indicates that airport expansion is under consideration alongside other transportation options.
A modern airport alone cannot solve connectivity problems if passengers and cargo have difficulty continuing their journey after landing.
The combination of air transportation and land terminals can potentially create a more integrated movement system for people and goods.
In practical terms, travelers arriving in Nabire could have better connections to other destinations, while cargo arriving by air could be transferred to land transportation networks.
The proposal remains dependent on land preparation, government coordination, and subsequent implementation.
Pioneer Airports Remain Part of the Strategy
Nabire is not the only airport receiving attention.
During the Jakarta meeting, Papua Tengah officials also discussed the improvement of pioneer airports serving mountainous and remote areas.
The districts mentioned included Puncak, Mimika, Deiyai, and Dogiyai.
In Puncak, the Ilaga airport was among the facilities discussed. The provincial government also wants improvements to aviation facilities in Timika and Dogiyai. In Dogiyai, the central government was reported to have followed up on a proposal to improve Enarotali Pioneer Airport or the existing airport facility in the area.
The province’s transportation needs extend beyond its capital, making the proposal significant.
Remote communities depend on smaller aviation links to connect with larger centers.
Pioneer airports can serve as lifelines for communities where road construction is technically difficult, expensive, or still developing.
Improving those facilities could therefore complement the development of Douw Aturure Airport.
Road Safety Is Part of the Same Program
The provincial government’s proposal also extends beyond airports and terminals.
Geley said the province had asked the Ministry of Transportation to support road safety infrastructure on several road sections.
One proposal involves installing safety barriers or protective fences on roads where accidents could have serious consequences.
Geley acknowledged that such infrastructure might appear relatively simple compared with a major airport or terminal but argued that it remains important for protecting road users.
This illustrates the wider philosophy behind the transportation program.
Connectivity is not only about building large infrastructure.
It also requires smaller facilities that make transportation safer and more reliable.
Dividing Responsibilities Within Papua Tengah
The September meeting was also part of a division of responsibilities between the provincial leadership.
Geley explained that Governor Meki Nawipa was conducting a working visit to Intan Jaya while he represented the provincial government in Jakarta.
“We share responsibilities. The governor entrusted me to represent him at this meeting,” Geley said.
The arrangement allowed the provincial government to continue engaging with the central government while the governor carried out activities elsewhere in the province.
For an infrastructure program requiring coordination across multiple ministries and agencies, sustained communication between provincial and central authorities will be important.
What the Expansion Could Mean for Papua Tengah
The proposed airport expansion carries implications well beyond aviation.
For residents, better airport capacity could mean more reliable travel between Nabire and other parts of Indonesia.
For businesses, stronger logistics could improve access to supplies and markets.
For government agencies, better connectivity could make it easier for personnel and equipment to reach communities.
For remote districts, stronger aviation links could provide another connection to provincial services.
The economic implications are also potentially significant.
Agricultural producers, traders, and other businesses depend on transportation to move products. In a geographically challenging province, transportation expenses and travel time can affect the viability of economic activity.
The provincial government’s emphasis on cargo distribution therefore reflects a broader development concern.
However, the benefits should be viewed as expected outcomes rather than already measured results. The sources describe the objectives of the planned infrastructure but do not provide post-project data showing reductions in transport expenses, increases in passenger numbers, or quantified economic gains.
A Coordinated Approach to Eastern Indonesia
The Nabire project also fits into a broader pattern of infrastructure development in Papua.
Recently, Indonesian authorities have continued to emphasize connectivity as an important component of development across the country’s eastern regions.
The approach is particularly relevant to Papua because infrastructure gaps are often linked to geography.
A road, airport, port, or bridge can change the practical distance between communities and government services.
The provincial government is therefore pursuing a combination of airport expansion, pioneer airport improvements, port development, land transportation terminals, and road safety facilities.
Douw Aturure Airport sits at the center of that strategy because of Nabire’s role as the provincial capital.
But the wider goal is a connected Papua Tengah rather than a larger airport in isolation.
The Next Stage: Funding and Implementation
The immediate challenge is now moving from proposals to implementation.
The provincial government has stated its willingness to allocate Rp80 billion.
The broader requirement has been estimated at Rp500 billion, meaning substantial additional funding will be required if the full development program is to proceed as proposed.
The Ministry of Transportation has been asked to contribute to the financing.
At the same time, technical planning, land preparation, and coordination between government agencies will determine how quickly individual components can move forward.
The five-hectare land requirement for the proposed transportation terminals is one example of a task that must be addressed at the regional level.
The same principle applies to airport development.
Funding is necessary, but infrastructure projects also depend on planning, technical standards, land readiness, procurement, and implementation.
Conclusion
The planned Nabire Airport expansion represents more than an upgrade to an existing aviation facility.
For Papua Tengah, Douw Aturure Airport is becoming an increasingly important gateway for a province whose capital must remain connected to remote communities, other Indonesian regions, and national supply networks.
The provincial government has committed approximately Rp80 billion to the development and estimates that the wider program will require around Rp500 billion. The Ministry of Transportation is being approached for the remaining funding.
The proposed work includes runway improvements, wider airport facilities, terminal development, and supporting infrastructure. The provincial government is also pursuing improvements to pioneer airports in Puncak, Mimika, Deiyai, and Dogiyai, as well as new land transportation terminals and road safety measures.
The significance of the program lies in its potential to connect people and goods more efficiently across Papua Tengah.
For residents of remote areas, connectivity can mean easier access to government services, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. For businesses and farmers, it can provide better routes to markets. For government, it can make public service delivery more practical across difficult terrain.
The project is not yet a completed transformation. It remains a development program requiring funding, technical preparation, and sustained cooperation between the provincial and central governments.
But the direction is clear.
By combining regional funding with national support, Papua Tengah is seeking to build a transportation network capable of matching the province’s growing role and geographic realities.
If implemented according to plan, Douw Aturure Airport could become more than the airport serving Nabire. It could become one of the principal gateways supporting the movement of people, goods, and economic activity across Papua Tengah.
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