Peg The Exorbitant Ticket Price Of IDR 2 Million More On The Ambon-Saumlaki Route, Wings Air Reported By The Head Of The Airport Allegedly Of Violating The Upper Limit Tariff

Head of the Airport Operator Unit (UPBU) Mathilda Batlayeri Saumlaki, Akhmad Romi. (AMONG)

AMBON - Head of the Mathilda Batlayeri Saumlaki Airport Organizing Unit (UPBU), Akhmad Romi, stated that he had reported the management of the airline Wings Air.

This problem was triggered by the alleged violation of the upper limit of ticket increases that exceeded the provisions for flights on the Ambon route to Saumlaki, Tanimbar Islands Regency, Maluku.

"We submitted a report to the authority's office in Manado and the head office in Jakarta Cq. Directorate of Air Transport", said Akhmad Romi in Saumlaki, Antara, Friday, August 5.

He explained that the management of Wings Air from the Lion Air Group had committed a violation by increasing ticket fares beyond the Decree of the Minister of Transportation or KM Number 68 of 2022 concerning the Number of Supplemental Fees (Fuel Surcharge) for Economy Class Passengers for Domestic Scheduled Commercial Air Transport.

By the provisions, he continued, propeller-type aircraft are only allowed to increase ticket prices to a maximum of 20 percent of the previous total price.

However, he said that Wings Air raised the price of airline tickets past the maximum ticket price.

"Indeed, currently there is a unilateral increase by Wings Air for the Ambon-Saumlaki flight route, which is around IDR 2,300,000 to IDR 2,400,000. This is indeed a violation of KM rule number 68 of 2022", he said.

The ticket price for the Ambon-Saumlaki route initially ranged from IDR 700,000 to IDR 1,174,000. Wings Air is the only direct flight from Ambon to Saumlaki, which is the outermost area in Maluku Province.

Therefore, he said that as the organizer of Saumlaki Akhmad Airport, he had submitted a report that there had been a violation of the upper limit fare. According to the information he received, the issue is currently under discussion, so he asked the public to remain patient in waiting for the latest decision.

He added that the Saumlaki-Ambon flight with Wings Air airline type ATR still takes place regularly every day. The plane has a capacity of 72 people.

Meanwhile, Lion Air Group's Corporate Communications Strategic Danang Mandala Prihantoro was not willing to provide information when confirmed on Thursday night.

"Good evening, brother", Danang replied via text message when asked for confirmation.