Sudjarwo Tjondronegoro Airport

Serui, ID 🇮🇩 Closed Airport

ICAO

ID-0328

IATA

-

Elevation

50 ft

Region

ID-PA

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: -1.87438° N, 136.23946° E

Continent: AS

Type: Closed Airport

Keywords: ZRI WABO

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.
Nearby Points of Interest

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Airport Information

Technical Information

For Aviation Geeks

Designation Length Width Surface Status
18/36 2133 ft 66 ft ASP Active

Type Description Frequency
AFIS - 122.5 MHz

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 25, 2025
Closure Date

Approximately late 2014

Reason for Closure

The airport was permanently closed following its replacement by the new, larger, and more modern Stevanus Rumbewas Airport (IATA: ZRI, ICAO: WABO). The primary reason for the replacement was the severe limitations of the old airport. Sudjarwo Tjondronegoro Airport had a very short runway (approximately 650 meters) and was constrained by surrounding terrain and urban development, making expansion impossible. This restricted operations to small STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft and posed safety concerns. The new airport was built with a significantly longer runway (initially 1,600 meters) to accommodate larger turboprop aircraft like the ATR 72, thereby improving safety, increasing passenger and cargo capacity, and boosting the economic connectivity of the Yapen Islands Regency.

Current Status

The site is no longer an active airfield. The original runway is still clearly visible on satellite imagery but is not maintained for aviation purposes. The land has been repurposed and integrated into the urban fabric of Serui. Parts of the former runway and airport grounds are now used as a public road, open space, and for local government buildings. The area is undergoing urban development, with the former aviation infrastructure being systematically replaced.

Historical Significance

For decades, Sudjarwo Tjondronegoro Airport was the essential and sole air gateway to Serui and the Yapen Islands. It played a vital role in connecting this isolated community to the rest of Papua, particularly to major hubs like Biak and Nabire. Operations were critical for passenger transport, mail delivery, cargo shipments, and, most importantly, medical evacuations. Due to its short runway, the airport exclusively handled STOL-capable aircraft, most notably the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and Cessna 208 Caravan. It was a key destination for regional carriers like the now-defunct Merpati Nusantara Airlines and various missionary aviation services (e.g., MAF, AMA) that served remote Indonesian communities. The airport was named after Sudjarwo Tjondronegoro, a prominent national figure and the first governor of Irian Barat (now Papua), underscoring its historical importance to the region's administration and development.

Reopening Prospects

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Sudjarwo Tjondronegoro Airport. Its closure was permanent, and its function has been entirely superseded by the superior facilities at Stevanus Rumbewas Airport. Reopening the old, constrained, and less safe airfield would be illogical from an economic, logistical, and safety standpoint. The land is now considered more valuable for the urban expansion of Serui.

Nearby Airports

Stevanus Rumbewas Airport
ZRI • WABO
Serui, ID
Medium Airport
~20 km away
Ros Bori Airstrip
ID-0129
Ros Bori - Yapen Island, ID
Small Airport
~28 km away
Waren Airstrip
WAYW
Sawara Jaya, ID
Small Airport
~46 km away
Owi Airfield
ID-0125
Owi Island, ID
Closed Airport
~70 km away
Frans Kaisiepo Airport
BIK • WABB
Biak, ID
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~77 km away
Biak Manuhua Airport
ID-0213
Biak, ID
Closed Airport
~80 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

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