Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport
Encyclopedia
Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport , formerly known as Comoro International Airport, is an airport
located in Dili
, the capital of East Timor
. The airport was renamed after Nicolau dos Reis Lobato
, an East Timorese politician and national hero.
Until recently, Dili's airport runway has been unable to accommodate aircraft larger than the Boeing 737
or C-130 Hercules
, but in January 2008, the Portuguese charter airline EuroAtlantic Airways
operated a direct flight from Lisbon
using a Boeing 757
, carrying 140 members of the Guarda Nacional Republicana
.
Under Portuguese rule, Baucau
Airport
, which has a much longer runway, was used for international flights, but following the Indonesian invasion in 1975, this was taken over by the Indonesian military and closed to civilian traffic.
The airport was placed under the control of the Australian Defence Force
during Operation Astute
in May 2006.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located in Dili
Dili
Dili, spelled Díli in Portuguese, is the capital, largest city, chief port and commercial centre of East Timor.-Geography and Administration:Dili lies on the northern coast of Timor island, the easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands....
, the capital of East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
. The airport was renamed after Nicolau dos Reis Lobato
Nicolau dos Reis Lobato
Nicolau dos Reis Lobato was an East-Timorese politician and national hero. He was born in 1952 in Bazartete, Portuguese Timor. Lobato was prime minister of East Timor from November 28 to December 7, 1975...
, an East Timorese politician and national hero.
Until recently, Dili's airport runway has been unable to accommodate aircraft larger than the Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
or C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
, but in January 2008, the Portuguese charter airline EuroAtlantic Airways
EuroAtlantic Airways
EuroAtlantic Airways - Transportes Aéreos S.A., operating and styled as euroAtlantic airways, is a charter airline based in Sintra, Lisbon, Portugal. It operates worldwide charter services, with an emphasis on the USA, Canada, Mexico, Pakistan and Australia, as well as ACMI and other wet lease...
operated a direct flight from Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
using a Boeing 757
Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
, carrying 140 members of the Guarda Nacional Republicana
Portuguese National Republican Guard
The Portuguese National Republican Guard is the gendarmerie of Portugal. Members of the GNR are soldiers, who, unlike the agents of the Public Security Police , are subject to military law and organisation...
.
Under Portuguese rule, Baucau
Baucau
Baucau is the second-largest city in East Timor, after Dili, the capital, which lies 122 km east of Dili.Baucau has about 16,000 inhabitants, and is the capital of Baucau, located in the eastern part of the country...
Airport
Cakung Airport
Cakung Airport is an unattended airport located west of Baucau, a city in East Timor .Under Portuguese rule, Baucau Airport, which has a much longer runway than Dili's Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport was used for international flights, including those of Trans Australia Airlines...
, which has a much longer runway, was used for international flights, but following the Indonesian invasion in 1975, this was taken over by the Indonesian military and closed to civilian traffic.
The airport was placed under the control of the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
during Operation Astute
Operation Astute
Operation Astute is an Australian-led military deployment to East Timor to quell unrest and return stability in the 2006 East Timor crisis. It is currently headed by Brigadier Bill Sowry, and commenced on 25 May 2006 under the command of Brigadier Michael Slater...
in May 2006.