Minister Of Transportation Budi Karya Says There Is An Empty Airport Phenomenon, What Causes It?

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi said he still found the phenomenon of empty airports, where airports have been completed but have not served flights.

Budi said, for example, an empty airport is Kertajati Airport in Majalengka, West Java.

He said, although this airport was built with large capacities and modern facilities, this airport has been quiet since its inauguration in 2018.

Then, Silangit Airport, and Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport.

In 2014, Budi said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) did instructions to develop air connectivity.

From 2014 to 2024, he said, 27 new airports were built and 64 airport rehabilitation projects.

However, continued Budi, the growth in the number of new airports is not in line with the addition of airlines operating in the country.

Moreover, he said, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of maspakai decreased drastically.

"At that time, our airport built and then the plane was close to 700, but what happened after COVID-19 the initial airport was creeping from 300," he said at a press conference on the Achievement of 10-Year Transportation Infrastructure Performance of President Jokowi's Administration at the Ministry of Transportation Building, Jakarta, Tuesday, October 1.

"Right now, about 420 is stagnant, it can't go up and down," he continued.

Furthermore, Budi said, one of the causes of the decline in the number of aircraft in Indonesia was due to the post-COVID-19 situation.

Such as geopolitical conflicts that have nationalized, to weaken the purchasing power of the global community.

"Indeed, the population of aircraft in the world has dropped dramatically. Because of several things, large manufacturers are also not very healthy. Both spare parts or colllapse manufacturers during COVID. Even some of the spare parts are from Ukraine," he explained.

According to Budi, the scarcity of spare parts affects the safety aspect. Thus, many aircraft are ultimately not operated.

Meanwhile, Budi continued, in terms of purchasing power, people after the pandemic experienced weakening.

In fact, he said, on certain tracking routes, at least 70 percent of passengers must be occupied.

"Indeed, to be honest, buying people goes down, say, certain goals must be met with 70 percent with a tariff that must be limited, otherwise the avtur cannot be paid," he said.