Erick Thohir Regarding Pelita Air Joining Garuda Indonesia: Integration Must OCCUR

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir opened his voice about the plan to consolidate or merge state-owned airlines.

He said this step was taken for the development of the domestic aviation industry.

The merger involved Pelita Air, which is currently under PT Pertamina (Persero) and PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. The plan, Pelita will be combined with Garuda Indonesia.

Erick said Garuda Indonesia airline will serve premium class flights. Meanwhile, Pelita Air serves premium economy class flights. Meanwhile, Citilink will serve low cost carrier (LCC) flights

"Yes, we are consolidating. Why? Garuda will indeed be premium, Pelita premium economy and of course there is a low cost," he said when met at The Energy Building, Jakarta, Thursday, January 9.

According to Erick, the integration of state-owned airlines must indeed occur. The goal is to encourage the development of the aviation industry. Moreover, he said, currently Indonesia is also experiencing a shortage of fleets.

"Well, this integration must happen. And indeed the number of our planes is not enough," he said.

When asked about the target for the merger of this state-owned airline, Erick did not want to reveal it. Even so, he stressed that the planned merger is still in the process of being studied.

"Still studying," he said.

Previously, Erick admitted that he would prioritize the Pelita Air merger into the Garuda Indonesia group from the discourse of merging Garuda Indonesia to the State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) aviation and tourism Holding (InJourney).

Even so, Erick said that the discourse of combining Garuda Indonesia into the Indonesian Aviation and Tourism Industry BUMN Holding or InJourney was also still being studied.

"Everything is in the study. The important thing is the solution for national flight efficiency," he said, quoted on Friday, January 3.