Minister Of Transportation Opens Opportunities For Indonesia To Have A Boeing Plane Returned By China To The US

Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi (photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Dudy Purwagandhi opens opportunities for Indonesian airlines who want to have a Boeing aircraft resulting from China's return to the United States (US).

"It is possible, it is certain to be possible. It turns out that Airline really needs it, then the available aircraft, the price is right and so on, why not," he said when met at the DPR Building, Jakarta, written Thursday, April 24.

Dudy said that his party gave it entirely to the airline. Even so, according to him, this opportunity is good to increase the number of planes in Indonesia, especially if the price is also affordable.

"We leave it to the airline. If Airline sees that with their condition they can bring in a plane, or take advantage of the situation, it might be good because we still need more planes," he said.

Previously, it was reported that the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir asked state-owned airlines to explore the procurement of aircraft with the aircraft manufacturer from the US, Boeing. This plan departs from Indonesia, which lacks an aircraft fleet.

The state-owned airlines in question are PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, PT Citilink Indonesia, and PT Pelita Air Service.

Erick said ideally the aircraft in Indonesia was at 700 units. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of aircraft in Indonesia has decreased to the remaining 390 fleets.

This condition was also conveyed by Erick Thohir directly to Boeing during a bilateral meeting with the Asian American Chamber of Commerce today at the Ministry of SOEs Office.

"We encourage this collaboration. In fact, one of them is open to increasing the number of aircraft through Boeing. But how is the procurement roadmap and then leasing and all kinds of things," he said at a press conference at the Ministry of SOEs, Jakarta, Thursday, December 5.

Regarding the procurement of this aircraft fleet, Erick admitted that he would discuss with US, Exim Bank and the aircraft lessor export banks.

However, there is no certainty when the number of fleets or the value of procurement will be agreed between the BUNN airline and Boeing. This is because this adjusts the roadmaps of each airline and producer.

"I offer how, for example, the Exim Bank, the leasing company can negotiate directly with Garuda, Citilink, and Pelita. But according to the roadmaps of each airline, that's what we do," he said.