The Samarinda-Surabaya Route Of Super Air Jet, An Airline Owned By Conglomerate Rusdi Kirana, Helps East Kalimantan Residents Who Want To Return To Their Hometowns

JAKARTA - Head of the East Kalimantan Transportation Service AFF Sembiring said the addition of a new route for Super Air Jet flights serving Samarinda - Surabaya is very helpful for East Kalimantan residents who will return to their hometowns ahead of Eid.

"The momentum fits perfectly with the Eid celebrations. I hope that it will not only serve the Samarinda - Surabaya route but can also go to other areas such as Yogyakarta, Jakarta, and Ujung Pandang," he said in Samarinda, quoted from Antara, Monday, April 25.

Currently, said Sembiring, a number of flights with routes to and from Samarinda have decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, ahead of Eid al-Fitr, public interest in traveling using air transportation is very high, especially now that the government's policy regarding Lebaran homecoming using public transportation is also facilitated with the record that the third vaccine or booster has been vaccinated, so there is no need to use the COVID-19 test for Eid homecoming.

According to him, the existence of APT Pranoto Samarinda Airport does not only serve Samarinda residents, but other residents around Samarinda such as Kukar, Kubar, Bontang, and Kutim also choose Samarinda as a flight destination because it is geographically closer than the airport in Balikpapan.

"There is quite a lot of interest from people who will go home to their hometowns, of course, the presence of the Super Jet is very helpful," he explained.

It is known that Super Air Jet is an airline from the Lion Group owned by conglomerate Rusdi Kirana, which was established in March 2021 and continues to add to its service routes, with 21 aircraft serving 18 cities including Balikpapan and Samarinda.

Flights from Samarinda to Surabaya, Super Jet with Air Bus A320-200 aircraft starting Friday, April 22, fly twice a day at 09.20 a.m. and 14.00 p.m. loca time and from Surabaya at 06.00 a.m. and 10.40 a.m. local time.

"The fares are still affordable and provide convenience for the community, hopefully, it will continue to increase the number of flight hours and destinations," said Sembiring.