Tanah Merah Airport
Tanah Merah, Indonesia

Tanah Merah Airport
Remote gateway serving the interior of Papua, Indonesia.
- ›Located in Boven Digoel Regency, one of the most remote regencies in Indonesia.
- ›The surrounding region is characterized by dense tropical rainforest and limited road access.
- ›River transport along the Digoel River complements air access as a key travel option.
- ›The area historically served as a Dutch colonial exile site for political prisoners.
- ›The airport primarily handles light aircraft and small turboprop aircraft due to its runway limitations.
Tanah Merah Airport is a small regional airstrip serving Tanah Merah, the capital of Boven Digoel Regency in South Papua Province, Indonesia. It plays a vital logistical role in connecting this remote jungle district to larger cities, as road infrastructure in the region remains extremely limited. The airport is a lifeline for local communities, government personnel, and humanitarian workers operating in one of Indonesia's most isolated territories.
- Passenger Terminal — A modest single-building terminal handling limited daily regional flights with basic check-in and waiting facilities.
- Taxi and ojek (motorcycle taxi) from terminal to town centre
- Private vehicle hire arranged through local guesthouses
- Walking to nearby accommodation for those staying close to the airport
- Penginapan Tanah Merah
- Losmen setempat (local guesthouses near town centre)
Food options inside the terminal are extremely limited, so travellers should plan accordingly. The town centre of Tanah Merah has small local warungs serving Indonesian staples such as nasi goreng and mie goreng. It is advisable to carry snacks and water for any extended layovers.
- Confirm your flight schedule directly with the airline, as services to remote Papua airports are subject to frequent changes or cancellations.
- Carry sufficient Indonesian rupiah cash, as ATM access in Tanah Merah is very limited.
- Arrive well ahead of departure time as the terminal operates informally and ground handling can be unpredictable.
- A valid travel permit (Surat Jalan) may be required for non-Indonesian nationals travelling to Boven Digoel Regency; arrange this in advance.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
Airlines serving this airport
No scheduled airline data available.
Routes
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Tanah Merah Airport is one of the airports serving the Boven Digoel Regency, in the Indonesian province of South Papua. It is located in the regency's capital of Tanahmerah.
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