Minister Of Transportation Budi Says Aircraft Movement Has Reached 60 Percent Compared To Before The Pandemic

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi said aircraft movements in Indonesia in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic are getting better, reaching 60 percent compared to the period before the pandemic.

"Today I want to see firsthand how the movement of aircraft at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. From what was reported by the President Director of AirNav that nationally the movement of aircraft in Indonesia is already above 60 percent compared to normal times. This is already an increase from the initial period of the pandemic, where the movement was very low", said Minister of Transportation Budi Karya in a statement, quoted from Antara, Saturday, June 12.

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya said the Ministry of Transportation would make policies to continue to encourage increased aircraft movements in the midst of this pandemic.

"We want to ensure that the movement from Jakarta to a number of provinces must occur regularly, whether every day or every other day, services must still be carried out. Even to cities or regencies, especially those in eastern Indonesia", said the Minister of Transportation.

The Minister of Transportation revealed that there is a way that has been done by local governments to support national flights, namely by buying or ordering airplane seats (block seats). According to him, this method can help improve aircraft movement.

"This method has been shown creatively by a number of local governments, namely the South Sulawesi Provincial Government and the Toraja Regency Government. They are working with airlines to order block seats for business travel purposes so that there can be four flights a week", explained the Minister of Transportation.

According to him, this method of ordering through block seats is temporary, which is approximately the first six months. It is hoped that this method can encourage increased aircraft movements to achieve a good economic level.

In addition, the Minister of Transportation also continues to remind all aviation stakeholders to continue to ensure that health protocols run consistently, in an effort to reduce the level of spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia.

"Transportation nodes are the nodes of movement that will determine how we support the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia. I am sure colleagues from airport operators, airlines and navigation can take good care of this", said the Minister of Transportation.

During his visit to Soekarno-Hatta Airport, the Minister of Transportation visited the AirNav Indonesia office and Tower. The Minister of Transportation advised AirNav Indonesia to continue to maintain flight navigation services to ensure connectivity in the air throughout Indonesia is running well.

After reviewing airport navigation, the Minister of Transportation held a meeting with a number of stakeholders at the Airport Authority Office Region I Jakarta.

Also present at the review were Director General of Civil Aviation Novie Riyanto, President Director of AirNav Indonesia Pramintohadi Sukarno and President Director of Angkasa Pura II M Awaluddin.