ASEAN 42nd Summit, Minister Of Transportation Budi: VVIP Aviation Arrangements And Regular Running Smoothly At Komodo Labuan Bajo Airport

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Transportation)

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said the flight arrangements for the arrival of ASEAN Summit guests ranging from VVIP to regular runs smoothly.

Budi admitted that today was the peak of the arrival of VVIP aircraft and VIPs for state leaders and delegates who attended the 42nd ASEAN Summit at Komodo Airport, Labuan Bajo.

"Alhamdulillah, in general today's flight arrangements are carried out well, so that today's movement of VVIP, VIP and regular aircraft can run smoothly," Budi said in an official statement, Tuesday, May 9.

Based on data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Directorate of Air Transportation, today, Tuesday, May 9 from noon to night, it was reported that 12 VVIP and VIP guest planes landed at Komodo Labuan Bajo Airport.

A total of seven planes carrying VVIP guests who landed were Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen who arrived at 13.20 WITA; Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (14.20 WITA); Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim (15.35 WITA).

Lalu, Perdana Menteri Laos Sonexay Sryptone (16.10 WITA); Presiden Filipina Ferdinand R. Marcos (16.50 WITA); dan Perdana Menteri Singapura Lee Hsien Loong (18.00 WITA).

Meanwhile, five planes brought VIP guests who landed, namely the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports of Cambodia and the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development of the Philippines using regular aircraft arrived at 12.55 WITA.

Then, Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul bin Abd Aziz (15.37 WITA); Vietnam's Minister of Social Pillars Nguyen Ba Hoan (regular flights, 16,40 WITA); and Deputy Minister, Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Cooperation Myanmar (regular flights, 18.35 WITA).

Budi said state guests were warmly welcomed with traditional East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) dances.

A number of ministers also welcomed the arrival of VVIP guests, including the Minister of Transportation who welcomed the arrival of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Prime Minister of Laos, and the President of the Philippines.

In addition to VVIP and VIP aircraft, nine regular flights also landed and were well served.

The nine planes are Batik Air on the Denpasar-Labuan Bajo route at 09.17 WITA, Lion Air on the Surabaya-Labuan Bajo route (09.38 WITA).

Then, Wings Air route Bajawa-Labuan Bajo (11.27 WITA); Citilink route Jakarta-Labuan Bajo (11.12 WITA); Batik Air route Denpasar-Labuan Bajo (12.45 WITA); Batik Air route Jakarta-Labuan Bajo (15.12 WITA); Batik Air route Denpasar-Labuan Bajo (17.18 WITA); Garuda Indonesia route Jakarta-Labuan Bajo (18.35 WITA); and Air Asia route Jakarta-Labuan Bajo (19.14 WITA).

To ensure the fulfillment of aspects of safety, security and smooth aviation, namely VVIP, military, charter, private, and regular flights, the Ministry of Transportation has made a number of arrangements to balance the movements of the five types of flights.

During the ASEAN Summit, Budi said, the Ministry of Transportation did not close regular flight access to and from Labuan Bajo.

Airport operations are open 24 hours and are given a slot for airlines to add or extra flights.

The arrangement is contained in the Circular (SE) of the Director General of Air Transportation Number SE 6 of 2023 concerning Operational Regulation of Aviation During the Implementation of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in 2023 at Komodo Airport, Labuan Bajo, which was issued on April 18, 2023 and took effect from 7 to 13 May 2023.