Erick Thohir Targets AP I And II Mergers To Be Completed By The End Of This Year

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) is targeting the merger or merger between PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero) or AP I with PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero) or AP II to be completed by the end of this year.

SOE Minister Erick Thohir said the merger of the two state-owned airport operators would later be like what was done at PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) or Pelindo. Regarding the implementation of the merger of AP I and II, Erick ensured that he could be pushed in December 2023.

Furthermore, Erick assessed that this merger or merger could later increase the number of foreign tourist visits in the country.

"We are trying (the realization of the December merger) because now tourism is the largest state income later," Erick said when met by reporters, written Monday, November 20.

Apart from business efficiency, continued Erick, the purpose of a merger is to strengthen domestic airport industry infrastructure. According to him, it is time for airports in Indonesia to advance to class at the global level.

"Efficiency rather than building industrial infrastructure from airports, we must improve our class," he said.

Moreover, continued Erick, several airports in Indonesia are starting to overcapacity, especially in Jakarta and Bali. Erick also predicts that airports close to tourist attractions will experience the same thing.

The airport that is considered overcapacity is Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Soetta). Then, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali.

"If we look now in Jakarta itself after COVID-19 has started to overcapacity, Bali is also starting to overcapacity, especially if we look at Mandalika, Labuan Bajo is very potential, so we have to improve it like it or not," he explained.