Sandiaga Values AP I And II Mergers Able To Encourage The Tourism Industry

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno assessed that the merger of PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero) and PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero) into PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia or InJourney Airports was able to stimulate the tourism industry.

"Positive and passionate, because the merger of PT AP I and PT AP II will create synergies so that operational costs can be reduced and the services can be better," Sandiaga said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 23.

He said that the merger of corporations under the auspices of the Ministry of SOEs was able to increase the number of flights that could be served through international airports such as I Gusti Ngurah Rai-Bali, Soetta-Cengkareng Airport and other international airports.

Meanwhile, the merger of PT Pertamina's subsidiary, Pelita Air and its subsidiary PT Garuda Indonesia, namely Citilink, is expected to be able to significantly increase the number of aircraft, namely from the target of 700 aircraft before this pandemic, and the current condition of around 400 aircraft can penetrate 500 to 600 aircraft.

"Hopefully it can penetrate 500, of these 600 aircraft maybe because many are queuing either Airbus or Boeing, this may take 1-2 years," he added.

With the addition of the aircraft, Sandi believes that the price of airplane tickets will be more affordable so that people are more enthusiastic about traveling.

It is known, Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Kartika Wirjoatmodjo conveyed that the plan to integrate state-owned airlines after the merger of PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero) and PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero) will be decided in the first quarter of 2024.

Deputy Minister Tiko explained that he would first re-establish the condition of the state-owned airline, Garuda Indonesia before entering it as its shares into InJourney.

As for Pelita Air, he continued, 2 options will also be studied first. First, merge with Garuda Indonesia or directly under the auspices of InJourney.

Although still being studied, Tiko said that Pelita Air, whose shares were occupied by PT Pertamina (Persero), would most likely be directly under InJourney.

This condition is different from Citilink, which is a subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, which will remain under the auspices of Garuda even though it will be merged into InJourney.