Commercial Flights From Husein Sastranegara Airport Moved To Kertajati, AP II Still Believes Tourist Visits To Bandung Remain Crowded

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero) has dismissed concerns that tourist visits to Bandung City, West Java will decline after the transfer of commercial flights from Husein Sastranegara Airport, Bandung City to Kertajati Airport, Majalengka Regency.

"In my opinion, this concern will indeed be realized if the anticipation or mitigation of the concerns does not occur, because what is feared is the access to land transportation from and to Kertajati," said AP II President Director Muhammad Awaluddin during a conversation with media crews in Bandung City, quoted from Antara, Sunday, October 29.

He hopes that the Bandung City Government can respond by presenting mass transportation to increase connectivity to Kertajati Airport.

"The Bandung City Government must progressively respond to its more mass public transportation support. This is what the local government must discuss, especially if Bandung, for example, concerns about losing its visitors or tourists, even though it may also be domestic tourists. Make it as easy and comfortable as possible, go down to Kertajati anywhere," said Awaluddin.

He said the Bandung City Government had also planned the construction of a mass transportation of rapid transit (BRT) buses in the Greater Bandung area which was expected to support connectivity to Kertajati Airport.

For other regions, it is also hoped that they can respond by providing transportation.

"Say the Bandung City Government responded to the situation, a BRT program was made for the city of Bandung and to Kertajati and vice versa. The local government around Kertajati there is Cirebon, Majalengka, Indramayu, Sumedang is also close there, right and maybe where to Karawang, Subang if they see that the potential must be large, it must be the same so the private sector cannot only see opportunities," he also said.

"If that's the shuttle bus or shuttle travel that we will take the opportunity, we must also do it faster if local government policies in the local government and also of course the West Java provincial government accommodate it," said Awaluddin.

Therefore, to improve connectivity, collaboration of stakeholders is also needed.

"It can't be, for example, the airport thinks, 'oh, it's the airport's job to think then, take passengers who come or who want to go to Kertajati so that they can be delivered or travel easily, they can't'. If for example the local government program does not support the mass public transportation, I think it will definitely take time and is limited," he said again.

Kertajati Airport began full operation on October 29, 2023 or received commercial flight diversion from Husein Sastranegara Airport.