Aviation Observer Alvin Lie On Kertajati Airport: Although Toll Road Access Has Been Opened, Not Sure It Will Be Crowded

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Aviation observer Alvin Lie assesses that the Kertajati Airport ecosystem, Majalengka, West Java, needs to continue to be built after the toll road access to the airport is operated starting today, December 20.

"The attraction of the airport is not only access, but also the accompanying equipment. If the flight is in the morning, where are the passengers staying, where to shop, how to get on with the transportation, so that it becomes the attraction of the airport," he said, quoted from Antara, Monday, December 20.

According to Alvin, with the operation of the Kertajati Airport Access Toll Road starting Monday, December 20, it will be easier for people to access the airport. However, Kertajati Airport will not necessarily become more crowded.

"As long as there are not enough passengers, the airline will not go there, because they also don't want to lose money," he said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Advocacy and Community Affairs Division of the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) Djoko Setijowarno hopes that the government will complete the construction of the Cileunyi-Sumedang-Dawuan (Cisumdawu) Toll Road by mid-2022.

With the Cisumdawu Toll Road, people from Bandung and other northern coastal areas will find it easier to access Kertajati Airport. The public is also believed to prefer Kertajati Airport over Soekarno-Hatta Airport later. Moreover, the Cisumdawu Toll Road will also be connected to the Kertajati Airport Access Toll Road.

"The problem is, the people of Bandung if they want to go to Kertajati have to enter the Subang Toll Road, it is still a bit far, the same as them to Soekarno-Hatta Airport. So, the target of the Cisumdawu Toll Road must be faster," he said.

Previously, based on the Decree of the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing No. 1514/KPTS/M/2021 regarding the Operational Determination of the BIJB Kertajati Access Toll Road, the government said the access toll road to Kertajati Airport could be used by the general public starting December 20, 2021.