The West Nusa Tenggara  officially opened, on Saturday, Lombok International Airport in is ready to encourage tourism Lombok, an island next to Bali.

The new airport is located in Pujut district in Central Lombok regency, approximately 40 kilometers south of Mataram,  West Nusa Tenggara capital city.

The airport is managed by state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I, and replaces the old Selaparang Airport, which had been the main portal for entering Lombok.

A Boeing 737-800 JR airplane operated by national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia was the first commercial aircraft to land at the new airport, carrying West Nusa Tenggara Governor Zainul Majdi and his entourage, as well as Transportation Ministry director general for air transport Harry Bhakti, from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Antara reported. (The Jakarta Post, October 1st 2011)