Komodo Airport Stays Open After 7.7 Quake, Restricts Taxiway

Labuan Bajo — Komodo Airport remained open after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Flores on 15 August 2026, but airport authorities restricted part of a taxiway and several facilities while inspections continued, according to an official notice from the airport management unit and a separate report citing BMKG and local authorities.

The Class II Komodo Airport Management Unit said the runway and apron were still in serviceable condition, allowing flight operations to continue. It added that inspectors found cracking in one taxiway area and temporarily limited access there as a precaution pending technical checks.

The airport notice also said initial checks covered staff, equipment, airside facilities and landside areas. Safety-related systems including communications, navigation and security remained functional, while the airport activated generators after a temporary power interruption from PLN.

Damage was identified at the fire station, parts of the terminal landside area and the administration building, according to the notice. Areas deemed safe continued to support airport activity, while restricted sections were kept closed until cleared.

What passengers need to know

The airport did not publish a list of cancelled or delayed flights in the notice, and it urged passengers to follow official updates and instructions from staff. The airport said it was coordinating with BMKG, AirNav Indonesia, airlines and other relevant institutions as recovery work continued.

For travellers passing through Labuan Bajo on the way to Komodo National Park, the key point is that the airport was operating rather than closed. However, the phased recovery meant access through some terminal areas and airside sections could be subject to temporary restrictions.

Earthquake context

CNN Indonesia reported that BMKG initially recorded the earthquake at magnitude 7.0 before revising it to 7.7, with the epicentre in Nagekeo regency at a depth of 15 kilometres. Vatican News likewise reported a magnitude 7.7 quake striking Flores on 15 August 2026, citing BMKG for the time, location and tsunami warning.

The airport notice said its initial assessment found no reported deaths or injuries at the airport. That finding aligns with the airport’s decision to keep operations running while technical teams inspected the affected areas.

Operational picture

• Runway and apron: reported usable
• Taxiway: one cracked area restricted for inspection
• Power: generators activated after a PLN outage
• Systems: safety, communications and navigation remained functional
• Flight schedule: no disruption list published in the notice

The airport said further operational decisions would depend on inspection results and aviation-safety considerations. It also said updates would be issued through official channels as recovery progressed.

Sources

• CNN Indonesia
• Vatican News
• Komodo Airport (UPBU Kelas II Komodo)