How to reach Labuan Bajo: airport figures and sea-weather rules
Official statistics show Komodo Airport’s role in Labuan Bajo access, while BMKG’s wave categories explain why sea conditions must be checked separately before travel.
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· 2 min read
Travellers reaching Labuan Bajo by air should treat Komodo Airport as the main documented access point and check conditions before sea travel. In July 2025, the airport recorded the largest increase in flights and air passengers in East Nusa Tenggara, while BMKG classifies waves from 1.25 to 2.5 metres as moderate.
How busy is Komodo Airport?
Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo recorded 234 aircraft movements in July 2025, the largest increase among airports in East Nusa Tenggara, according to the Statistics of East Nusa Tenggara Province, or BPS, in 2025.
The same BPS release reported an additional 29,539 air passengers at Komodo Airport in July 2025. The figure describes the increase compared with the previous month, not the airport’s total passenger volume.
What does the latest regional travel data show?
East Nusa Tenggara recorded 25,155 foreign-tourist visits in July 2025, according to BPS in 2025. Domestic tourist trips originating in the province reached 1,002,652, while trips headed to the province reached 981,528.
BPS also reported a 50.95% occupancy rate for classified hotels in East Nusa Tenggara in July 2025. These are province-wide figures and should not be read as counts for Labuan Bajo alone.
How should visitors read sea-weather warnings?
BMKG’s maritime scale classifies waves of 0 to 0.5 metres as calm, 0.5 to 1.25 metres as low and 1.25 to 2.5 metres as moderate, according to its national maritime-weather page updated in 2026.
For northern Flores waters, BMKG’s forecast valid from 25 September 2026 to 28 September 2026 reported waves of 1.1 metres and warned of the potential for moderate waves reaching 1.3 metres. The forecast advised caution and following local authorities’ directions.
Why is the forecast relevant to Komodo trips?
Labuan Bajo is in Manggarai Barat, on Flores, and trips into Komodo’s surrounding seas depend on conditions beyond the airport. BMKG’s local forecast for Labuan Bajo reported 31°C and winds of 22.2 kilometres per hour on 20 September 2026.
Airport activity and marine conditions are separate indicators: BPS records transport movement, while BMKG forecasts weather and waves. A busy airport therefore does not establish that sea conditions are suitable for a particular departure.
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