Sambut ASEAN Tourism Forum, YIA Airport Will Play Thailand's Flight Route

Photo: Doc. Antara

KULON PROGO - PT Angkasa Pura I seeks international flights on the Yogyakarta International Airport - Thailand route to be opened in January to welcome the ASEAN Tourism Forum January 2-5 February 2023.

General Manager of Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) Agus Pandu Purnama said Thailand has a good position for passenger development, because it is a country that other ASEAN countries can pass through.

"This is what we are fighting for. But there are obstacles, it turns out that the bilateral agreement between Indonesia and Thailand, Yogyakarta International Airport has not yet been included, only Denpasar (Bali) and Cengkareng (Sukarno-Hatta)," Agus said as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, December 28.

He said PT Angkasa Pura I Yogyakarta International Airport proposed the opening of international routes in YIA-Thailand to be rejected by the Ministry of Transportation. In Thailand itself, Thai Smile airline is in progress making a proposal submission submitted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Thailand.

Later there will be a request to Indonesia, and Yogyakarta International Airport is ready to accept it. Then tied up with a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Indonesia and Thailand.

"Because if there are 12 planes from Indonesia to Thailand, then the agreement from Thailand to Indonesia is also 12 times. This residical is the same in other countries. This is being pursued," he said.

He said that initially, international flights from Yogyakarta International Airport began January 15, 2023, but were canceled because standards for bilateral licensing had not been met.

"Currently, we are confirming that there will be international flights from Yogyakarta-Thailand International Airport or vice versa this January," he said.

This is because on January 2 to February 2, 2023, there is an ASEAN Tourism Forum where Yogyakarta is the host. The delegation guests are projected to reach 200 people because there are 13 countries. Then many more will come to Yogyakarta.

"Hopefully, flights from Thailand-Yogyakarta International Airport can operate this January," he said.

Furthermore, Agus said that one of the concerns of PT Angkasa Pura I International Airport is international flights. Yesterday, the airline MH Malaysia Airline occupation reached an average of over 90 percent.

Malaysia Airline serves international flights from Kuala Lumpur-Yogyakarta International Airport-Kuala Lumpur. There is about 60 percent of its occupancy for Umrah, and 40 percent of it is for tourists who vacation in Malaysia or vice versa in DIY (Indonesia).

Indian tourists through Malaysia already exist. He received information from hotels that there are tourists from India staying. "This is an addition for us," he said.

Then, AirAsia already has Indonesian Kuala Lumpur and AirAsia. AirAsia belongs to the Yogyakarta-Singapore International Airport flight route. Scoot Air is also available to serve Singapore- Yogyakarta International Airport-Singapore.

"What we are waiting for is Thailand. Hopefully, international routes will be approved and included in the Indonesian-Thailand bilateral MoU," he said.