World War II

Utarom Airport was originally constructed as a military airbase by the Japanese during the Pacific War of World War II. Development of the airfield began in 1942 to support Japan’s expansion into the South Pacific, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. For the project, the Japanese brought in romusha (forced laborers) from Java, along with local workers from the Kaimana area. To accelerate construction, the laborers were subjected to harsh treatment, including coercion, beatings, threats, and even killings. Swampy land was reclaimed, and trees were felled and transported entirely by manual labor. Workers from Java were directly supervised by Japanese soldiers, while Papuan laborers from Kaimana were placed under the authority of their local ruler, Raja Kumisi IV Achmad Aiturauw of the Kingdom of Kaimana.

After witnessing the mistreatment inflicted by Japanese troops, the king personally intervened to oversee his people. Under his supervision, Papuan forced laborers received relatively better treatment. The Japanese also showed respect to the king, granting several of his demands, including the provision of food and allowing the workers to operate without direct oversight from Japanese soldiers. Of the approximately 600 romusha brought from Java, only around 60 remained by the end of the airport’s construction. Six months later, in June 1943, the airfield was already capable of accommodating Japanese military aircraft. The airport was named “Utarom” by Raja Kumisi IV Achmad Aiturauw, with “Utarom” meaning hope or belief in independence, according to a legend preserved in Kaimana folklore.

Dutch era

Following the Japanese surrender in 1945, the Dutch returned to Kaimana in 1946 and found the airport heavily damaged by Allied bombing. The airfield was subsequently rehabilitated, enabling Allied aircraft to resume operations. In 1949, the Round Table Conference (KMB) was held in The Hague, during which the status of Western New Guinea became a point of dispute, as the Netherlands sought to retain control over parts of its former colony. In 1950, the Dutch initiated large-scale redevelopment of the airport, converting it into both an airbase and a naval base for the Netherlands Armed Forces due to its strategic location and in preparation for a possible Indonesian invasion.

By 1961, De Kroonduif, a subsidiary of KLM operating in Netherlands New Guinea, was running services from Kaimana to its hub in Biak, with stops in Manokwari, Sorong, Kebar Valley and Ransiki using the Douglas DC-3 Dakota.

As relations between the Netherlands and Indonesia deteriorated in the early 1960s, particularly following President Sukarno’s launch of Operation Trikora to annex Western New Guinea, Dutch Royal Netherlands Air Force jet aircraft were placed on standby at the base. Meanwhile, Kaimana’s seaport was reinforced with Dutch warships in anticipation of a possible Indonesian incursion. However, in 1963, the Netherlands formally recognized Western New Guinea as part of Indonesia’s sovereignty, and Dutch authorities soon withdrew from Kaimana. Remnants of Dutch-era structures, including hangars, can still be seen around the airport.

Contemporary era

Between 1964 and 1970, Utarom Airport was the only airport in Fakfak Regency (prior to the establishment of Kaimana Regency) and the most well-equipped aviation facility in the region, aside from small grass airstrips in Kokonao and Akimuga. At the time, the airport was already capable of accommodating aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules, Pilatus Porter, and DHC-6 Twin Otter. From 1971 to 1990, the airport was designated as a pioneer airfield. In 1991, Pertamina and Mobil Oil established it as a home base for their operations. In collaboration with the government, these companies played a significant role in the airport’s development, and during this period, Utarom Airport became capable of handling larger aircraft such as the Fokker F-28.

As of 2025, the airport is facing issues related to coastal erosion, which have begun to threaten the safety and continuity of its operations. Strong sea waves have damaged and washed away sections of the concrete revetment and iron fencing along the coastal side of the airport, affecting an area of approximately 60 meters. The erosion has already encroached up to 15 meters into the airport grounds and is now only about 50 meters from the runway.