JAKARTA - The Mathilda Batlayeri Airport Authority in the Tanimbar Islands Regency, Maluku, stated that Wings Air from Lion Air Group canceled all flights on the Ambon - Saumlaki route and vice versa, from August 13 to August 31, 2022.
"Perhaps you can ask Wings Air directly. That is Wings Air's policy," said Head of the Airport Organizing Unit (UPBU) Mathilda Batlayeri, Akhmad Romi, in Saumlaki as reported by Antara, Sunday, August 14.
He stated that as the airport authority, he only helped issue information about the flight cancellation (canceled flight) of Wings Air to users of aircraft services in the outermost areas of Maluku Province. Ambon - Saumlaki flights with flight numbers IW 1514 and Saumlaki - Ambon flights IW 1515, all experienced cancellations for Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays starting from 13 to 31 August 2022.
Akhmad Romi was not willing to explain whether the flight termination was related to the actions of the Airport Organizing Unit (UPBU) Mathilda Batlayeri who had reported the management of the Wings Air airline for alleged violations of the fare limit for ticket increases exceeding the provisions for flights on the Ambon route to Saumlaki.
Previously, Akhmad said that Wings Air management had committed a violation by increasing ticket fares beyond the Decree of the Minister of Transportation or KM Number 68 of 2022 concerning the Number of Additional Charges (Fuel Surcharge) for Economy Class Passengers for Domestic Scheduled Commercial Air Transport.
As a result of the flight delay, a number of residents of the Tanimbar Islands admitted that it was difficult to travel outside the area because only the only one that directly served the Saumlaki route to Ambon and vice versa.
Wings Air of the Lion Air Group belonging to the conglomerate Rusdi Kirana operates the ATR 72-600 or propeller type aircraft for flights to Saumlaki, while the pioneering SAM Air PK-SHM flight belonging to PT. Semuwa Aviasi Mandiri has to stop by several areas before to Ambon.
"We are constrained and cannot go, even though we have to take part in activities in Ambon on Monday tomorrow," said Alubwamin, a prospective Wings Air passenger in Saumlaki.
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Meanwhile, Corporate Communications Strategic of Lion Air Group Danang Mandala Prihantoro in an official press statement stated that the company during the operation of the Wings Air type ATR 72 aircraft to small areas such as the Tanimbar Islands, is still at a loss.
In fact, Lion Air Group through the airline Wings Air has reached destination cities at the sub-district and district levels on inter-island routes to the outer islands by recording an average of 200 flying frequencies every day.
"Airlines operating on these routes are still experiencing losses due to the non-optimal utilization factor or level of utilization of the ATR 72 type aircraft due to serving areas or cities of pioneering destinations. The price of aircraft fuel or aviation turbine fuel (avtur) is more expensive than the price of avtur in Indonesia. Big airports (big cities)," said Danang.
Nevertheless, he stated that Lion Air Group continues to support flight operations and services in Indonesia to date, both large routes or profitable jets and routes in pioneer areas using the loss-making propeller planes.
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