Ahmad Yani Airport Officially Joins Kuala Lumpur-Semarang International Route

Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang. (InJourney)

JAKARTA General Ahmad Yani Airport Semarangresmi serves international flights starting today. The inauguration was marked by AirAsia's inaugural flight on the Kuala Lumpur route Semarang.

The Kuala Lumpur route will operate at a frequency of seven times a week.

This step is a follow-up to the determination of 36 international airports in line with Asta Cita Presiden Prabowo Subianto to expand connectivity, increase foreign tourist visits, and strengthen the regional economy.

Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the reopening of this international route was part of the government's great strategy of expanding air transportation accessibility outside major cities.

"The opening of international routes is expected not only to open mobility opportunities for foreign tourists and business actors, but also to encourage regional economic growth and strengthen Indonesia's position in the global connectivity network," he said in an official statement, Friday, September 5.

Similarly, Deputy Governor of Central Java Taj Yasin Maimoen said this international flight would open a new door for Central Java to attract foreign tourists as well as expand the regional product market.

"With direct flights, this will facilitate economic growth in Central Java, increase the tourism sector, and make Central Java more known abroad," said Taj Yasin.

Taj Yasin added that currently there are 8,553 passengers who will fly, both from Central Java and from Kuala Lumpur.

"Is there an impact? The data shows that in 2024 there will be 593 foreign tourists who come to Central Java and today it is proven that 8,553 passengers will fly from both Central Java and from Kuala Lumpur," he said.

Meanwhile, InJourney Airports Regional IV CEO Rahadian D. Yogisworo expressed the same optimism. He said the international route of Ahmad Yani Airport would have a significant impact on Central Java connectivity.

In 2019 before the pandemic, continued Rahadian, Ahmad Yani Airport served nearly 230,000 international passengers.

"With the reopening of this international flight, we are optimistic that Semarang can return to being one of Central Java's main gateways. We hope that the Kuala Lumpur 'Semarang' flight will be the beginning of wider connectivity, including plans to open a new route to Singapore in November," said Rahadian.