Garuda Indonesia Plans To Open Routes To Manokwari, West Papua Governor: However, Airports Must Be Extended

Illustration of the aircraft of PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk. (Between)

PAPUA - Acting Governor of West Papua Paulus Waterpauw said Garuda Indonesia will reopen domestic flight routes to and from Rendani Airport, Manokwari.

This assurance was obtained after the provincial government coordinated with the Ministry of Transportation and management of Garuda Indonesia in Jakarta some time ago.

"I have met with the Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Director General of Air Aviation, and Director of Garuda Indonesia. They agreed, but the airport must be extended," said Paulus in Manokwari, West Papua, Sunday, August 13, which was confiscated by Antara.

In addition, he said, the provincial government received support from BP Tangguh through the allocation of subsidy costs for 40 flight seats every day.

Chair subsidies will help local governments to realize the increase in the number of airlines that provide services to people in West Papua.

"BP Bintuni has guaranteed 40 seats every day and is very helpful for local governments," Paulus explained.

Currently, he said, the provincial government together with the Manokwari Regency Government are accelerating the completion of the Rendani Airport development project which includes the extension of the runway, passenger terminal, and other infrastructure.

The Rendani Manokwari Airport development project received full support from the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR).

"Requirements from the central government, airports must be developed, then Garuda can enter. Therefore, the local government is accelerating the completion of the project," he said.

The Regent of Manokwari Hermus Indou explained that the extension of the runway for Rendani Airport according to the master plan was 2,500 meters which was currently being worked on.

However, the local government is targeting the runway to be increased to up to 3,000 meters to accommodate Airbus aircraft.

"I have proposed that the master plan be increased to 3,000 meters and the land acquisition is carried out in stages," explained Hermus.

He explained that the total Rendani Airport area reached 134.5 hectares, but some areas have been inhabited by residents, without obtaining permission from airport managers.

Thus, the government needs to relocate citizens in order to realize the development of a representative airport in supporting economic growth in the future.

"From the total area, some of them have been quasi-residents who actually do not have a permit from UPBU Rendani," he explained.

Head of the West Papua Bank Indonesia Representative Office, Rommy Sariu Tamawiwy, appreciated the efforts of the provincial government to expand the airport area and increase the number of flight services.

The local government's efforts have a positive impact on the quality of community services, the development of the tourism sector, and controlling inflation because air transportation ticket prices are more controlled.

"People have many choices and air transportation inflation can be suppressed," said Rommy.

Acting Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of West Papua Lasmini said the combined inflation of two cities in West Papua in July 2023 was 3.62 percent (year on year/yoy) compared to the same period in 2022.

Inflation was triggered by rising price indexes from a number of expenditure groups such as transportation (6.23 percent yoy), eating and drinking (5.27 percent yoy), recreation and exercise (5.36 percent yoy), and personal service care (4.98 percent yoy).

"Air transportation commodities from the expenditure group still contribute to inflation," explained Lasmini.