Garuda Indonesia Targets The Number Of Passengers To Increase By 30 Percent During Long Holidays

Garuda Indonesia aircraft. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Irfaniaputra, hopes that the long holiday and leave together from October 28 to November 1 will have an impact on increasing the number of passengers by 30 percent, from normal days.

With a stimulus from the Government that eliminates Aircraft Passenger Service Fees (PJP2U) or Passenger Service Charge (PSC) for passengers departing from 13 airports, Irfan hopes that these efforts will be able to encourage people to travel.

"We hope there is a significant increase in the figure of 30 percent on weekdays," said Irfan as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, October 28.

There is also the PJP2U or PSC tariff stimulus policy provided by the Ministry of Transportation which is officially enforced for prospective passengers who buy tickets from 23 October 2020 at 00.01 WIB to 31 December 2020 at 23.59 WIB.

The exemption of PJP2U or PSC tariffs applies at 13 airports, namely Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang (CGK), Hang Nadim, Batam (BTH), Kuala Namu, Deliserdang (KNO), I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Denpasar (DPS), Yogyakarta International, Kulon Progo (YIA), Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta (HLP).

Then, International Lombok, Praya (LOP), General Ahmad Yani, Semarang (SRG), Sam Ratulangi, Manado (MDC), Komodo, Labuan Bajo (LBJ), Silangit (DTB), Blimbingsari, Banyuwangi (BWX), Adi Sucipto, Yogjakarta (JOG).

This stimulus is expected to boost the aviation and tourism industry, as well as increase the public's desire to travel again, especially those who want to take advantage of the long holiday coming weekend.

"We have responded by preparing additional aircraft or replacing planes that usually fly with a larger capacity, because usually suddenly a lot of people ask for it," said Irfan.

However, the former CEO of Sigfox Indonesia is reluctant to mention the increase in the number of passenger bookings since the PSC stimulus policy took effect.

"There is a temporary increase, but in fact we have to wait for that day. The reason is simple, there are people who have 'booked', tickets have been paid for, but in fact they did not leave because maybe during the rapid test the results were reactive," he said.