An Airbus A320 from Indonesian airline Citilink, flying from Jakarta, made history by becoming the first airplane to use the taxiway at the new International Airport of Oecusse — officially known as the Oecusse Ambeno International Airport, Sandalwood Road — inaugurated in June 2019.
Historic First Landing
At around 15:30 local time, the aircraft with registration PK-GQR — a charter contracted by Indonesian company Wika — landed on the 2,200-metre runway, touching down from west to east before circling the track and docking at one of the three airbridges in the new terminal.
On the first floor of the terminal, dignitaries and guests gathered to witness the moment, including:
- Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo — President of the Republic
- Aaron Noé Amaral — President of Parliament
- Fidelis Magalhães — Minister of Legislative Reform
The landing was met with applause, marking an unprecedented moment for East Timor: an airplane using an airport airbridge for the first time at this facility.
A $120 Million Gateway for Oecusse
The airport project cost $120 million USD (approximately €107.2 million) and is owned by the Oecusse-Ambeno Special Administrative Region (RAEOA). At the time of inauguration, the airport continued to be served only by the RAEOA’s twin-engine 19-seat aircraft.
Following the symbolic first landing, President Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo officially inaugurated the infrastructure by sounding a ceremonial horn on the tarmac. Representatives of the diplomatic corps, regional officials, and many residents of Oecusse — the most geographically isolated area of East Timor — were present for the opening ceremony.
Cementing Ties with Indonesia
Mari Alkatiri, president of RAEOA, addressed the gathering and drew on the region’s historic role in trade, noting that sandalwood from the mountains of Timor once travelled the Silk Road. He expressed hope that the new airport would help strengthen ties with neighbouring Indonesia and serve as a new gateway into East Timor.
Alkatiri also highlighted the broad political support that underpinned the project:
“They all collaborated to allow this process in Oecusse. I’m just sad that Brother Xanana Gusmão is not here at the moment.”
He spoke just weeks before completing his term as RAEOA president. The decision on whether to renew his mandate or appoint a new leader for the project would fall to Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak, who was to make a proposal to the President of the Republic.
The airport is seen as a landmark development for the RAEOA and its associated Special Zone of Social Economy of Market (ZEESM) — a project that, according to Alkatiri, was born with the support of East Timorese leadership as far back as 1974 and 1975.