Plan to visit Sumba anytime soon? The island itself feels remote, but there are practical ways to reach it. And you might be surprised how close it is to its sister, Bali, the Island of Gods. You can get to Sumba via Sea, Air or another option which might be interesting to those who are looking for more adventure to combine Land and Sea.
Flying is the easiest and fastest option, with connecting flights through Bali to whichever airport you are landing in Sumba, depending on your Itinerary. Interested in learning more? Keep reading for all about traveling to Sumba by plane!
What are Sumba’s airports called?
There are two airports in Sumba, each is on a different side of the Island:
- Lede Kalumbang Airport (TMC): Located in Tambolaka/Waitabula. This airport has more options of domestic flights and is a more convenient route for travellers who opt for surfing spots, white sandy beaches, and cultural villages. You have several airlines to choose, such as NAM Air, Batik Air and Wings Air. Lede Kalumbang Airport is commonly referred to as Tambolaka Airport.
- Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport (WGP): Located in Waingapu, Sumba’s largest town. WGP has less flight schedules than TMC Airport, with Trans Nusa and SUSI Air serving the most. If you plan to visit the savannah landscapes, the Ikat weaving places, and dancing trees, then this is the best entry. Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport is commonly referred to as Waingapu Airport.
The distance between these two airports is around 3,5-4 hours drive. Since Sumba island is larger than Bali, getting from one spot to another can take quite some time.
Islands and Airports with Flights to Sumba
There are several routes that people flying to Sumba typically choose. These are:
| Departure Airport | Arrival Airport | Flight Duration | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) | Tambolaka Airport (TMC) | 1 hour and 15 minutes | 2 flights per day |
| Juanda Airport (SUB) | Tambolaka Airport (TMC) | 1 hour and 30 minutes | Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday |
| Praya Airport (LOP) | Tambolaka Airport (TMC) | 1 hour and 10 minutes | Every Friday |
| El Tari Airport (KOE) | Tambolaka Airport (TMC) | 1 hour and 35 minutes | 2 flights per day |
| Komodo International Airport (LBJ) | Tambolaka Airport (TMC) | 45 minutes | Every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday |
| Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) | Waingapu Airport (WGP) | 1 hour 50 minutes | Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday |
| Sabu airport (SAU) | Waingapu Airport (WGP) | 1 hour | Varies |
| Komodo International Airport (LBJ) | Waingapu Airport (WGP) | 40 minutes | Varies |
NAM Air
NAM Air has been serving the Sumba route since 2017. The airline opened its first flying route from Jakarta to Sumba via Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali. Below, you can see their typical routes:
| Typical Route | Fleet | Prices (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| Bali-Sumba | Boeing 737-500 | 1.200.000-1.400.000 |
| Jakarta-Pangkal Pinang | Boeing 737-500 | 890.000-1.000.000 |
| Surabaya-Sumba | Boeing 737-500 | 1.900.000-2.000.000 |
| Jakarta-Bali | Boeing 737-500 | 1.450.000-1.600.000 |
| Jakarta-Sulawesi | Boeing 737-500 | 1.550.000-1.770.000 |
| Kalimantan-Surabaya | Boeing 737-500 | 2.100.000-2.200.000 |
Nam Air Baggage Allowance & Excess Baggage Fee
When you fly using NAM Air you will get a checked baggage allowance up to 15kg for economy seats and up to 30kg for business class seats. NAM Air’s excess baggage fee is calculated per kilogram (kg), with the rate varying depending on the flight route. The estimated rate per KG is typically around IDR 22,000 to IDR 60,000, depending on the distance of the flight route.
The baggage you are allowed to bring into the cabin is up to 7kg/person, The baggage must not exceed 56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm. It must fit in the overhead compartment or under the seat. Passengers are allowed to bring one small personal item, such as laptop, umbrella, handbag, etc.
Sports Equipment
The weight of sports equipment cannot be combined with or deducted from your ticket’s free baggage allowance. Each piece of sports equipment will be subject to a separate Sport Baggage Fee, based on its weight.
The typical sport equipment fee is:
| Weight | Prices (Estimated) |
|---|---|
| Weight 0-10 KG | IDR 600,000 |
| Weight 11-20 KG | IDR 700,000 |
| Weight 20+ KG | IDR 1,500,000 |
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Large Musical Instruments and Oversized Fragile Items
Large musical instruments, such as guitars, cellos, or keyboards, as well as fragile items that do not fit in the cabin must be transported as checked baggage with special handling. These non-standard items may be subject to additional charges as they require extra space and special protection in the aircraft’s cargo hold.
Batik Air
Batik Air officially began operating direct routes to Sumba Island in 2019, using Lede Kalumbang Airport in Tambolaka as its main gateway. Its first service operated from Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta) to Sumba, with a connection at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali.
| Typical Route | Fleet | Prices (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| Bali (DPS) – Sumba (TMC) | Airbus A320 / Boeing 737 | IDR 1.300.000 – IDR 1.550.000 |
| Jakarta (CGK) – Pangkal Pinang (PGK) | Airbus A320 / Boeing 737 | IDR 950.000 – IDR 1.100.000 |
| Surabaya (SUB) – Sumba (TMC) (Via Bali) | Airbus A320 / Boeing 737 | IDR 2.100.000 – IDR 2.350.000 |
| Jakarta (CGK) – Bali (DPS) | Airbus A320 / Boeing 737 | IDR 1.500.000 – IDR 1.750.000 |
| Jakarta (CGK) – Sulawesi (UPG) | Airbus A320 / Boeing 737 | IDR 1.600.000 – IDR 1.850.000 |
| Kalimantan (PNK) – Surabaya (SUB) | Airbus A320 / Boeing 737 | IDR 2.200.000 – IDR 2.400.000 |
Batik Air Free Baggage Allowance & Excess Baggage Fees
When flying with Batik Air on domestic flights, passengers get a Free Checked Baggage Allowance (FBA) of up to 20 kg for Economy Class and 30 kg for Business Class.
The maximum cabin baggage allowance is 7 kg per passenger for Economy Class and 10 kg for Business Class. Cabin baggage must not exceed 56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm and must fit in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you. Passengers may also bring one additional small personal item, such as a laptop bag, umbrella, or women’s handbag.
Batik Air’s excess baggage fee is calculated per kilogram (kg), typically IDR 25,000 to 70,000/kg, with rates depending on the distance of the flight route.
Sports Equipment
Under Batik Air’s baggage policy, the weight of special sports equipment is not included in the free baggage allowance (FBA) or the regular prepaid baggage allowance.
Special sports equipment, such as surfboards, is subject to a flat Sport Baggage Handling Fee per item. Following the Lion Air Group’s domestic policy, a fixed handling fee of IDR 200,000 per surfboard per one-way flight applies, provided that the surfboard weighs no more than 23 kg and has a maximum length of 230 cm.
Large Musical Instruments & Oversized Fragile Items
Large musical instruments, such as guitars or keyboards, as well as oversized fragile items that exceed the cabin baggage limits, must be checked into the aircraft’s baggage hold.
The airline recommends purchasing an extra seat next to the passenger’s seat if the musical instrument requires additional protection against impact or potential damage in the aircraft’s cargo hold.
Wings Air
Wings Air officially began serving the Sumba route in 2014, operating through Tambolaka Airport (TMC) and later expanding to Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport (WGP) in Waingapu. It operates as a regional feeder airline under the Lion Air Group, specializing in short-haul inter-island connections.
| Typical Route | Fleet | Budget (IDR) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Route | Fleet | Budget (IDR) |
| Lombok (LOP) – Sumba (TMC) | ATR 72-500 / 600 | IDR 1,100,000 – IDR 1,350,000 |
| Kupang (KOE) – Sumba (WGP) | ATR 72-500 / 600 | IDR 900,000 – IDR 1,150,000 |
| Kupang (KOE) – Sumba (TMC) | ATR 72-500 / 600 | IDR 950,000 – IDR 1,200,000 |
| Flores (LBJ) – Sumba (TMC) | ATR 72-500 / 600 | IDR 850,000 – IDR 1,100,000 |
Wings Air Baggage Allowance & Excess Baggage Fee
When flying with Wings Air on standard domestic routes, there is no free checked baggage allowance and passengers must purchase baggage allowances separately.
Passengers are allowed to bring up to 7 kg of cabin baggage per person. However, due to the smaller overhead compartments on the turboprop aircraft, cabin baggage must not exceed 35 cm x 30 cm x 20 cm. It must fit in the overhead compartment or under the seat. Passengers are also allowed to bring one small personal item, such as a small handbag or laptop bag.
Wings Air’s excess baggage fee is calculated per kilogram (kg), with rates typically varying from IDR 25,000 to IDR 55,000+ per kg.
Sports Equipment
Wings Air does not allow for the weight of sports equipment to be combined with or deducted from any regular prepaid baggage allowance. Due to the limited cargo hold door size of the ATR 72 aircraft, oversized items are subject to strict restrictions.
Following Lion Air Group policy, surfboards are charged a flat handling fee of IDR 200,000 per board. However, there is a strict maximum length limit of 220 cm due to the size of the ATR aircraft’s cargo compartment. Items exceeding this length cannot be accepted.
Large Musical Instruments and Oversized Fragile Items
Large Musical Instruments & Oversized Fragile Items
Large musical instruments, such as guitars or keyboards, as well as oversized fragile items that exceed the cabin baggage limits, must be checked into the aircraft’s cargo hold.
Tips & Facts
It’s a fact that getting to Sumba does not have to be complicated. You can choose the airline that best fits your travel style and turn the journey itself into part of the adventure. However, before making the ultimate decision, you must know a few key facts and tips:
- Baggage fees are significantly cheaper if you purchase an additional baggage allowance together with your ticket, or no later than 6 hours before departure, through the airline’s official website or a travel agent.
- Flights to Sumba are prone to be delayed due to changing weather conditions. Expect delays in the wet season.
- Check the forbidden items list very carefully before your flight; Indonesia has very strict customs regulations and failing to comply with these regulations can lead to serious fines.
Conclusion
With several airlines serving Sumba, travelers have more than one way to choose their journey depending on their itinerary, budget, baggage needs, and the experience they are looking for. For those who enjoy the journey as much as the destination, Wings Air offers an interesting way to experience Indonesia’s islands. For travelers bringing their board to chase Sumba’s waves, this can make Wings Air a practical option, thanks to favorable baggage rules. So book your flight, bring your board, your camera, or simply your curiosity, and come discover Sumba. The island may feel far away, but it is closer and more accessible than you think!