Observers Suggest Airlines Optimize Aircraft Utilization To Reduce Costs

JAKARTA - Aviation observer Arista Atmadjati suggested that airlines increase aircraft utilization to reduce flight operational costs, which have resulted in high ticket prices.

"Increase aircraft utilization from an average of 9.5 hours per day to an optimal 12 hours per day, so that it can reduce airline costs," Arista said as quoted by Antara, Monday, June 6.

Arista said that the current high price of airline tickets is influenced by the increase in global aviation fuel, so airlines must find ways to survive this condition.

The observer from the Arista Indonesia Aviation Center (AIAC) said that world oil prices in 2021 will still be in the range of 60 US dollars per barrel. However, the current world oil price is around 120 US dollars per barrel.

"So if it's doubled, ticket prices will go up because the aviation fuel component holds 40 percent of the airline's total costs," he said.

In addition to optimizing aircraft utilization, Arista also suggested that airlines collaborate with all stakeholders, one of which is the Ministry of Tourism to create flight packages to domestic tourist destinations.

"Create a bundling tourism package with hotel tickets to affordable destinations and massive promotions, so that domestic transport users are interested," he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said, currently there is a revenge travel phenomenon or the number of seats and the number of travelers who are not comparable.

As a result, flight ticket prices have increased because there are more travelers than the number of seats.

"This is the law of economics. We are now exploring opportunities to open new routes and new routes and add passengers," said Sandiaga Uno.