Last updated: August 2026 · Prices & availability verified for the 2026/2027 season
Last updated: August 16, 2026 · Written from Labuan Bajo
Quick answer: Yes — as of August 16, 2026, Komodo Airport (Labuan Bajo) is open and operating. The runway and apron were inspected and declared safe after the August 15 earthquake, and flight schedules returned to normal by that same afternoon. If your flight lands on the 20th, there is so far no airport-side reason to expect disruption.
Here is the current Komodo Airport status after the earthquake, facts first:
- The earthquake: magnitude 7.7 (BMKG’s initial M7.0 estimate was later revised), August 15, 2026, 05:58 WITA, in the sea north of Flores near Mbay — about 200 km northeast of Labuan Bajo, at shallow depth.
- Komodo Airport: runway and apron declared safe; the airport stayed operational. Some taxiway sections cracked and were closed for inspection.
- Flights: some August 15 morning departures were adjusted; schedules normal by that afternoon.
- The harbor: sailing from Labuan Bajo officially reopened the same day by the Harbormaster (Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026), after BMKG declared the tsunami potential over.
- Komodo National Park: never closed; trips running normally since August 16.
What happened at Komodo Airport during the earthquake?
The quake struck at 05:58 WITA in the sea north of Flores, near Mbay in Nagekeo. BMKG’s tsunami warning was lifted about three hours later, once it was clear no destructive tsunami had formed. The shaking in Labuan Bajo was strong, but the town continued to function, with limited, localized damage.
At Komodo Airport, the authority did what airports are supposed to do after a significant quake: pause, inspect, verify. The runway and apron — the surfaces an aircraft actually lands on and parks on — were inspected and declared safe, and the airport remained operational. Some taxiway sections showed cracks and were closed for inspection. During those checks, part of the morning flight schedule was adjusted; by the afternoon of August 15, flights were operating normally again.
We are writing this from Labuan Bajo, not from a newsroom. Our crews were at sea with guests when the earthquake struck — everyone was accounted for — and our boats returned to the water the same afternoon, once the Harbormaster officially reopened sailing.
A note on Flores, before anything else about travel. The earthquake’s human toll was concentrated far from Labuan Bajo, in central and eastern Flores — Nagekeo, Sikka, Manggarai — where dozens of lives were lost and many families are grieving. Labuan Bajo, on the island’s far western tip, keeps working precisely so that Flores can keep working. Our crews are Flores people; our thoughts, and part of our effort in the weeks ahead, are with their neighbors to the east.
Is Komodo Airport open right now?
Yes — so far, everything a passenger actually touches is functioning normally. The status at a glance:
| Facility / service | Status (as of August 16, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Runway | Inspected, declared safe — in use |
| Apron | Inspected, declared safe — in use |
| Some taxiway sections | Cracked; closed for inspection |
| Flight schedules | Adjusted on the morning of Aug 15; normal since Aug 15 afternoon |
| Labuan Bajo harbor | Officially reopened Aug 15 — Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026 |
| Komodo National Park | Open — it was never closed |
The same picture comes from BMKG, the Komodo Airport authority, and the Labuan Bajo Harbormaster (KSOP), with matching reports from national outlets such as Antara and Tempo.
“My flight to Labuan Bajo is on the 20th — is the airport open?”
This is the most common question in our inbox this weekend. The direct answer: yes. The airport is open, and flights have run on their normal schedule since the afternoon of August 15 — five days before the 20th. So far there is no airport-side reason to expect your flight to be affected.
Practical steps we give our own guests: watch your airline’s app in the 24 hours before departure (schedule changes, when they happen, come from airlines, not from a closed airport); plan to fly as booked; and if your arrival time shifts, message us — we will adjust your pickup and your Labuan Bajo tour timing to match.
Are flights between Bali and Labuan Bajo running normally?
So far, yes. Most international travelers reach Labuan Bajo through Bali or Jakarta, and airlines have flown the route on schedule since the afternoon of August 15. Several guests felt the quake in Bali, but Bali is far from the epicenter and so far we have seen no knock-on effect on this route. For a combined itinerary, our Komodo tour from Bali page covers the connection end to end.
Will boat trips be running when you land?
Yes — this part of the destination recovered even faster than the airport. The Harbormaster officially reopened sailing from Labuan Bajo the same day (Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026), after BMKG declared the tsunami potential over, and boats — ours included — were back on the water that afternoon. We covered the full timeline in how Labuan Bajo sailing reopened the same day.
Komodo National Park was never closed, and departures have run normally since August 16. If you are still choosing a format, a shared open trip is the easiest way to join a scheduled sailing, while a private Komodo boat tour gives your group its own itinerary and pace.
What if my flight changes — do I lose my trip?
No. If an airline moves your arrival by a few hours, we simply adjust your pickup. If a disruption genuinely beyond anyone’s control prevents your trip, your payment is protected under our Sail Again Guarantee — a flexible rebooking guarantee that converts the full value of your booking into travel credit in your name, valid for up to five years, with your originally booked boat and phinisi category held for you. One reschedule is free, the credit can be transferred to family or friends, and our team will confirm availability for your new dates. An aviation hiccup can move your trip; it does not take it away.
What would change this answer?
This answer — airport open, flights normal — would stop being true if:
- the Komodo Airport authority closed the runway or apron — not just taxiway sections — after a further inspection or a significant aftershock;
- BMKG issued a new warning for the region;
- the Harbormaster suspended sailing from Labuan Bajo again;
- airlines suspended the Bali–Labuan Bajo route.
None of those apply as of August 16, 2026. We are updating this page as the situation develops.
FAQ: what travelers flying in are asking us right now
Lightly edited from real questions guests sent us within 48 hours of the earthquake.
We land in Bali in two hours and fly to Labuan Bajo on Wednesday the 19th. Will our flight be affected?
So far there is no indication it will be. Komodo Airport has been on a normal schedule since the afternoon of August 15, and the Bali–Labuan Bajo route is flying as usual. Enjoy your Bali days, watch your airline’s notifications, and fly as planned.
I arrive at Labuan Bajo at 9:00 tomorrow morning — is the airport actually functioning?
Yes. Arrivals and departures are operating normally as of today. The runway and apron are declared safe; the only closures are some taxiway sections under inspection, which affect ground movements the airport is managing — not whether your flight can land.
Are there still aftershocks? Is it safe to come, or should we cancel?
Aftershocks were felt in the first day and have been easing — normal after a quake of this size. We will not promise anyone a guarantee about the earth; what we can share is what authorities have declared so far: airport open, sailing officially reopened, park never closed, and every departure follows BMKG and Harbormaster guidance. Still weighing it? We wrote Should I cancel my Komodo trip? to walk through the decision honestly.
I’m flying there in a couple of hours. Is going still a responsible choice?
Based on what authorities have declared so far — airport open, sailing officially reopened, park open — travel to Labuan Bajo is operating normally. Responsible looks like this: follow official guidance, travel with operators running full safety protocols, keep plans a little flexible.
Our boat trip is August 28–30. Should we expect flight problems by then?
So far, nothing suggests it. Flight schedules normalized within hours of the quake. If anything changes before your dates, we will contact you directly, and your booking stays protected either way. For the wider picture beyond the airport, see Is Labuan Bajo safe after the earthquake?
Flying in this week? We’ll take it from the runway
Land, and we handle the rest — airport pickup, harbor, boat. Browse our private trips or join a scheduled open trip, and our team will confirm availability for your dates. Questions before you fly — or while you’re at the gate? Message us on WhatsApp at +62 811-3823-875. We answer from Labuan Bajo, where our boats are already back at sea.
