Access To Kertajati Is Still Difficult, Husein Sastranegara Is Still Eligible To Be An International Airport

Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung. (Photo: Angkasa Pura II)

JAKARTA - Husein Sastranegara Airport, Bandung, is considered still worthy of being an international airport, because the accessibility to West Java International Airport (BIJB) Kertajati is still inadequate.

"Kertajati International Airport is not ready to become a replacement. Because access to it is still inadequate," said Member of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Ahmad Syaikhu, quoted from Antara, Monday, September 7.

According to him, as long as Kertajati's accessibility to Bandung Raya does not exist, tourism to Bandung Raya will decline sharply. Unless, he continued, if the Cisumdawu Toll Road is operational, it will cut the travel time for Kertajati to Bandung Raya.

As is known, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transportation has proposed that eight international airports be converted into domestic airports, one of which is Husein Sastranegara, Bandung.

Ahmad Syaikhu is of the opinion that this plan should be postponed because the downgrading of the status to a domestic airport will certainly have an adverse impact on tourism in West Java, especially Bandung Raya.

"There will definitely be a decline. Because so far many airlines have transported tourists from Singapore and Malaysia to Bandung City as a favorite tourist destination in West Java," said Syaikhu.

He added that one of the things that will be affected is the sale of clothes in Pasar Baru, which has been one of the shopping destinations for Malaysians.

He also stated that the movement of foreign tourists through the Husein Sastranegara airport averaged around 4,000 people per day, or more than BIJB, which averaged 2,000 people per day.

"If Husein Airport is only a domestic airport, then the impact will not only be on tourism, but the economy as well," said Syaikhu.

In terms of regulations, according to him, in Permenhub No. 39 of 2019 concerning the National Airport Order, Article 16 Paragraph 1 point c states that the establishment of an international airport takes into account the growth and development of tourism.

In addition, he continued, point d is the interests and capabilities of national air transport, and at point e is the development of the national economy and foreign trade.

"From a regulatory perspective, Husein Airport still meets the requirements," said the former Bekasi Deputy Mayor.