The GoTL has undertaken studies with assistance from International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to identify the physical development options and financing arrangements for the airport. Currently, the length of the runway of the airport is 1,800 m restricting large aircrafts, including widebodies, to operate at the airport. Two main options to expand the runway has been studied. Option 1 includes an extension of the runway to the west and into the sea. Option 2 avoids the extension to the sea but includes extending the runway to the east across the river and causing resettlement of over 1,000 people. Other arrangements at the airport, including treatment options for taxiways and aprons, and safety and security installations are directly depending on the main decision about direction where the runway will be extended.

The nature of the TA is research and development, where previous studies will be reviewed, including technical discussions with the relevant government agencies and other development partners involved. Multi-criteria analysis will be developed through this consultative process to compare various options considering technical, economic, social and environmental impacts. Relevant stakeholders, including civil aviation authorities, affected communities and interest groups will be identified and consulted. With the help of limited field surveys, the indicative cost estimates of each alternative will be prepared. Preliminary assessment of the social and environmental impacts will be conducted. Based on the multi-criteria analysis, the consensus on the preferred option will be obtained through stakeholders workshop.

Develop Dili Airport as a modern international standard airport with a capacity to handle one million passengers per year. This will boost tourism and other economic sectors by building stronger aviation links with major Asian hubs and building the infrastructure needed to enable this growth. To improve the level of services and increase efficiency of airport services