Garuda Group And Pelita Air Mergers Can Press Logistics Fees?

Illustration of Garuda Indonesia (Photo: Doc. Garuda)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir plans to merge or merge three state-owned airlines PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (GIAA), Citilink and Pelita Air. One of the reasons is an effort to reduce logistics costs in the country.

In response to this, Aviation Observer Alvin Lie said the merger of the three state-owned airlines had nothing to do with logistics costs.

"I am also surprised that Mr. Erick's class is talking about a merger but it is associated with logistics costs, where is the connection?", he said when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, August 23.

The reason is, Alvin said that the cost of logistics is influenced by several components. Therefore, according to him, it can't be done only through airlines.

"When we talk about logistics, we don't just talk about transportation costs. But other costs, such as warehousing costs, renting a cargo terminal at an airport like what, costs at this airport are out of control, it also increases every year," he said.

"Well, how do you want to reduce logistics costs if the cost of warehousing, cargo terminal fees and others also increases. The logistics costs include toll road costs, right. Because after air transportation, it must also be transported by land as well," he continued.

Furthermore, Alvin also questioned what Erick Thohir's goal was to merge or merge the company at the end of his term of office. The reason, he considered that the government was not yet open.

"That's why I asked what the target was, what the purpose was. That's what the government has not yet opened," he said.

Previously, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir planned to merge or merge three state-owned airlines, namely PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, Citilink Indonesia and Pelita Air.

For your information, this meger action has also been carried out previously in the port and logistics sector by combining four Pelindo companies.

"After carrying out a series of efficiency programs on four Pelindo, we will continue to state-owned enterprises in other clusters, namely airlines. Currently, there are three SOEs engaged in the field of aviation, namely Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, and Pelita Air," he said in an official statement, Tuesday, August 22.

Erick explained that this plan is one of the efforts so that logistics costs in Indonesia continue to decline. So that it will further ease the business world.

Erick said that his party also encourages efficiency to continue to be the main agenda for state-owned companies.