South Sulawesi Governor Launches Makassar-Lutra Initial Flight

South Sulawesi Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman (left five) took a photo together at the launch of Susi Air's inaugural flight on the Makassar-Masamba Lutra-Sorowako route, in Makassar, Monday, (22/5/2023). PHOTO BETWEEN/HO-Humas South Sulawesi Provincial Government

The Governor of South Sulawesi, Andi Sudirman Sulaiman, launched a subsidized inaugural flight on the Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport route Makassar to Andi Djemma Masamba Airport, North Luwu Regency (Lutra) with the Makassar Route - Masamba / Masamba - Soroako (PP) in Makassar.

"The provision of flight subsidy stimulants is carried out so that the existence of airports spread across several areas in South Sulawesi can continue to operate," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, May 22.

"Of course subsidy stimulants are important. So that later when we can walk alone in the next few months, we can look for other areas to subsidize again. At least there are no activities on standby airports, this is what is targeted so that then there is flight activity," he added.

The youngest governor in Indonesia explained that the government had to intervene and then subsidize. Because if subsidies are not given, then who else will then take advantage of airports whose development budget is expensive or large.

In addition, he said, the existence of this airport is also a system to facilitate the movement of goods and services.

"We continue to subsidize. It's just that yesterday our Toraja (Makassar-Toraja flight) subsidies were released. Now our Balikpapan has subsidized again to Toraja, one time it will be released. If there are customers in particular," said Andi Sudirman Sulaiman.

Head of the People's Welfare Bureau of South Sulawesi Province Iqbal Najamuddin, said that the South Sulawesi Provincial Government in 2023 budgeted Rp20 billion for a subsidy of five flight routes from Makassar City and to a number of areas in the area.

In detail, the five routes are Makassar - Bone, Bone - Kendari, Makassar - Massamba, Masamba - Soroako and Makassar - Selayar.

"Each route has a different subsidy, according to the distance it takes and how long the flight subsidy is provided, it is still in the process of being discussed," said Iqbal.