Purbalingga Regent To Call Citilink Management About Stopping Operations At JB Sudirman Airport

General Besar (JB) Sudirman Purbalingga Airport Runway/DOK VIA ANTARA

PURBANGLINGGA - The Regent of Purbalingga, Central Java, Dyah Hayuning Pratiwi confirmed that Jenderal Besar (JB) Sudirman Airport is still operating today.

"Until now, JB Sudirman Airport is still operating and Citilink airline has not stopped operations at JB Sudirman Airport," said Regent Dyah Hayuning Pratiwi in Purbalingga, quoted by Antara, Monday, October 25.

The statement was made after news circulated that Citilink airline was no longer serving flights at JB Sudirman Airport.

The Regent explained that Citilink serves flights every Thursday and Saturday. Although the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic was acknowledged by the Regent, it had an impact on decreasing public interest in using air transportation.

"Flight rules are also very strict in the midst of the pandemic and PPKM, this rule may result in reduced public interest," he said.

The Regent also said that in the near future his party will hold a meeting with Citilink and Angkasa Pura II to discuss this issue.

"We will immediately call Citilink and AP II to sit down together to discuss issues during the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

The Regent said that his party would provide full support so that airport operations can continue to run well.

"Of course we as the government want to support this airport to continue to operate and move the people's economy so that there will be steps from the local government, for example every week, because flights are once a week, so there is a 'booking seat' from the local government until people's interest returns. as always," he said.

The Regent added that he hoped that the PPKM level in Purbalingga would soon drop to level II so that community mobility would be able to increase.

"This will further stimulate the economy and the interest in using aviation transportation will increase," he said.

Previously, Citilink decided to stop flight operations to Jenderal Besar Sudirman Airport in Purbalingga, Central Java, due to low occupancy or demand. In fact, Citilink is the only airline operating there.

President Director of Citilink Juliandra Nurtjahjo explained that the decision to stop the flight schedule to General Sudirman Airport in Purbalingga was based on conditions on the ground. Juliandra said the occupancy at the airport was very low.

"We don't operate there (Purbalingga) because it happens to be very low on Sunday 3 and Sunday 4 October," he said, quoted from Bisnis.com, Monday, October 25.