| Mopah Airport | |
| Iata: | MKQ |
| Icao: | WAKK |
| Wmo: | 97980 |
| Type: | Public-use / Private-owned |
| Owner: | Government of Indonesia |
| Operator: | Ministry of Transportation |
| City-Served: | Merauke |
| Elevation-F: | 10 |
| Elevation-M: | 3 |
| Timezone: | WIT |
| Pushpin Map: | Indonesia South Papua#Indonesia |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in South Papua##Location in Indonesia |
| Pushpin Label: | MKQ/WAKK |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Metric-Rwy: | y |
| R1-Number: | 16/34 |
| R1-Length-M: | 2,500 |
| R1-Surface: | Asphalt |
Mopah Airport[1] is located in Merauke, South Papua, Indonesia. The airport is Indonesia's second easternmost airport after Sentani International Airport in Sentani. The airport serves as the main gateway to several tourist destinations around Merauke, most notably Wasur National Park.
The original air strip measured 150feetx6000feetft (xft) and was completed on 28 June 1943 by the Seabees of the 55th Naval Construction Battalion during World War II as part of Naval Base Merauke.[2] The airfield had a No. 86 Squadron RAAF and a few bombers assigned to do daily reconnaissance and bombing missions.[2] After the Surrender of Japan in 1945, allied forces departed the airfield, and military control of the airport was handed over to the government of Dutch East Indies. The airport was then managed by the Dutch organization Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA). The Dutch handed the control of the airport to the Indonesian government in 1962, when they signed the New York Agreement and left New Guinea.[3]
This airport has international status around June 1990, when Air Niugini operated a weekly direct international flight to Daru Island and it was closed seven years later due to the economic crisis in Southeast Asia.
With the continued increase in tourist visits, the activity of airlines using the airport also increased. The terminal building was extensively renovated in 2015 to increase its capacity. The airport terminal was expanded from just 1972m2 to 4634m2. It can now carry around 200,000 passengers annually.[4] The new check-in counter and baggage claim area has a more minimalist interior than the old one. The airport's parking lot was also expanded to cater more vehicles.[5] The airport's toilet was also renovated extensively. The boarding lounge was also expanded and now contains 381 seats for passengers.[6] Outside the terminal building, a canopy has now been installed at the drop off location so that passengers avoid the heat and rain when they arrive. In one corner of the terminal, an ATM and a food court were built. To add to the beauty and comfort for the passengers, the area around the terminal has been planted with trees and green grass. In total, the rehabilitation and expansion of the terminal building cost around .[7]