Betoambari Airport began construction in 1975–1976, when the Government of
Buton Regency allocated a site in Katobengke Subdistrict, Betoambari District, Baubau City. Construction was carried out by the
Indonesian Army Corps of Engineers, as the terrain consisted largely of solid rock; in addition to heavy machinery, explosives were used to level the site. The pioneer airstrip was completed in 1976 with a runway measuring 820 × 23 meters. Its operation was officially inaugurated on 22 October 1976 by Vice President Sultan
Hamengkubuwono IX. Initially owned by the Buton Regency Government, the airport was later transferred to the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation on 7 November 1978. He has been officially recognized as a
national hero of Indonesia. On 25 December 2024, the first
Airbus A320 landed at Betoambari Airport, operated by
Super Air Jet. The airline initially operated charter flights between
Makassar and Baubau before launching scheduled services on 7 April 2025. There are plans to launch direct flights between Baubau and
Jakarta in the future, as well as reopening previously discontinued routes to cities such as
Ambon. There have been land disputes in areas surrounding the airport, making land clearing for expansion more difficult. The conflicts primarily stem from disagreements between the airport authority and local residents. Protests have occurred on several occasions, at times disrupting airport operations and flights. == Facilities and development ==