Wings Air Highlights Labuan Bajo Links to Makassar, Tambolaka and 15+ Cities

Labuan Bajo — Wings Air has highlighted new and existing flight links from Komodo International Airport to destinations across Indonesia, including a direct route to Makassar and onward connectivity marketed as reaching more than 15 cities nationwide, according to Lion Air Group’s corporate announcements.

On 20 July 2026, Lion Air’s official newsroom carried an English and Indonesian headline stating that Labuan Bajo is now connected to Makassar, Manado, Balikpapan, Jayapura and more than 15 other cities, framed as an expansion of air access for West Manggarai Regency. The newsroom items describe the development as Wings Air expanding connectivity rather than enumerating a specific count of new routes.

Earlier in July, Lion Air Group published a detailed release on the launch of a direct Makassar–Labuan Bajo service operated by Wings Air using ATR 72 aircraft. That statement says the route took effect from 19 July 2026, with flights scheduled four times per week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday between Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar (UPG) and Komodo International Airport in Labuan Bajo (LBJ).

Confirmed routes and schedule

The Makassar–Labuan Bajo service has been corroborated by multiple independent sources. A July 16 Lion Air Group release specifies flight numbers IW-1910 and IW-1911, departing Makassar at 10:55 WITA and arriving in Labuan Bajo at 12:25 WITA, with the return departing Labuan Bajo at 12:50 WITA and arriving in Makassar at 14:30 WITA on the same four weekly days.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation, through Komodo Airport’s official site, reports that the inaugural Wings Air flight on the Makassar–Labuan Bajo–Makassar route operated on Sunday, 19 July 2026, and confirms that the service is planned at four flights per week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

A release from the tourism authority for Labuan Bajo Flores states that the inaugural Makassar–Labuan Bajo flight on 19 July 2026 carried 58 passengers on flight IW-1910, departing Makassar at 10:55 WITA and arriving in Labuan Bajo at 12:25 WITA, with the return sector scheduled to leave Labuan Bajo at 12:50 WITA and arrive in Makassar at 14:30 WITA.

Wider connectivity around Labuan Bajo

Separate Lion Air Group material describes Wings Air’s role in linking Labuan Bajo with other destinations in Nusa Tenggara Timur and beyond. A July 16 release details new direct flights between Labuan Bajo and Tambolaka on Sumba Island, effective from 23 July 2026, using flight numbers IW-1916 and IW-1917 and operating three times per week in each direction.

That Tambolaka announcement outlines onward itineraries using Labuan Bajo and Tambolaka as connection points, including links towards Kupang, Lombok, Bali, Makassar, Surabaya and Jakarta via Wings Air and other Lion Group carriers. Local media in Labuan Bajo report the same Labuan Bajo–Tambolaka schedule and emphasise its role in strengthening inter-island connectivity in Nusa Tenggara Timur.

Domestic coverage also notes that, in addition to Makassar, Wings Air already operates direct services from Labuan Bajo to cities such as Lombok, Bajawa, Ende, Maumere and Kupang, with plans to add Labuan Bajo–Tambolaka from late July 2026. These reports align with Lion Air Group communications positioning Labuan Bajo as a growing regional hub for eastern Indonesia.

Practical implications for travellers

The July 20 newsroom headlines promote Labuan Bajo’s connectivity to Makassar, Manado, Balikpapan, Jayapura and more than 15 other cities, but the headline items themselves do not list all destinations or specify which routes are nonstop and which involve transfers. Detailed schedules and aircraft types are only available for certain routes, such as Makassar–Labuan Bajo and Labuan Bajo–Tambolaka, through separate announcements and official airport or tourism-agency releases.

For visitors planning trips to Labuan Bajo or onward journeys from Komodo International Airport, the confirmed nonstop options currently documented include Makassar and Tambolaka, with multiple weekly frequencies and published departure and arrival times. Other cities highlighted in Lion Air Group headlines, including Manado, Balikpapan and Jayapura, are presented in corporate communications as being reachable through Wings Air and Lion Group networks, often via connecting itineraries.

Travellers are advised to verify current availability, routing and timetables directly through Wings Air and Lion Air Group booking channels, as corporate announcements and media coverage may not reflect subsequent schedule changes.

Sources

• Lion Air – Newsroom (English)
• Ministry of Transportation – Komodo Airport, inaugural Makassar–Labuan Bajo flight
• BPOLBF – Opening of new Wings Air Makassar–Labuan Bajo route
• LabuanBajoToday – Wings Air Opens Labuan Bajo–Tambolaka Route
• Detik – Wings Air officially serves Labuan Bajo–Makassar route
• RRI – Wings Air opens direct Labuan Bajo–Makassar and Labuan Bajo–Tambolaka routes
• Aeroroutes – Wings Air Adds Makassar–Labuan Bajo From mid-July 2026