David Constantijn Saudale Airport

Prior to the construction of the airport, access to Rote Island was limited to sea transportation. Residents traveling to Kupang, the provincial capital, had to rely on boats. At the time, increasing missionary activities on the island prompted local communities to propose the development of an airport to improve accessibility.^[4] To support the construction of the airport, the local rajas (traditional chiefs) of Rote allocated portions of their land for its development.^[5]

Lekunik Airport began construction in 1969 under the leadership of David Constantijn Saudale, who was then serving as a special representative of the regent of Kupang Regency for Rote (koordinatorschap)—of which Rote was formerly a part—prior to the formation of Rote Ndao Regency in 2002. He mobilized local communities to support the project, reflecting strong local initiative in its development.^[6] The airport was completed and officially began operations in 1976, initially featuring a runway measuring 900 m × 27 m. The first aircraft to land at the airport was a Douglas DC-3 Dakota carrying missionaries to Rote.^[6] Following its inauguration, the airport began serving pioneer flights to the island.

In 2010, the airport was renamed to its current name in honor of David Constantijn Saudale, recognizing his contributions to the airport’s construction as well as his broader role in the development of Rote.^[4]

Currently, flights to Rote are very limited, with only two routes—Kupang and Savu Island—served by Wings Air and Susi Air. To boost tourism, there are plans to introduce additional routes to major destinations such as Labuan Bajo, Alor, and Sumba.^[7]

The airport features a runway measuring 1,650 m × 30 m, along with a 75 m × 17 m taxiway and an apron of 120 m × 85 m. It is capable of accommodating small aircraft such as the ATR 72. The passenger terminal covers an area of 1,170 square meters.^[8] Supporting facilities include an operational complex comprising office buildings, a Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) navigation facility, a workshop, an air traffic control (ATC) tower, a PKP-PK (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) building, and a PH building.^[8]

The airport is scheduled for further development in the coming years. The total land required for the expansion is 64.60 hectares; however, only 51.40 hectares are currently available, leaving 13.20 hectares yet to be acquired by the local government. This additional land is planned for terminal parking facilities and access roads.^[9] To support the development, the government allocated a budget of Rp 49,160,428,000 in 2018. The funding is intended for runway resurfacing, interior terminal renovations, drainage improvements, construction of operational buildings, road upgrades, and other supporting infrastructure.^[9]