Minister Of Transportation Values Airline Ticket Prices During Homecoming Flows Are Still Within Reasonable Limits

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi (right) interacted with passengers while visiting Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Tuesday (25/4/2023). (DOC. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi assessed that the price of aircraft tickets during the 2023 Eid homecoming flow is still within reasonable limits and does not exceed the predetermined upper limit rate.

The Minister of Transportation underlined that the policy on the flow of Eid Al-Fitr 2023 also made the implementation of the homecoming flow relatively smooth, one of which was approved by the policy of advancing the joint leave holiday so that the homecoming flow time became longer.

"Thank you to airport managers who have managed the surge in airplane passengers well and also airlines who have cooperatively maintained tariffs as recommended by the government," said the Minister of Transportation, quoted from an official statement received in Jakarta, Tuesday.

He said this when reviewing the handling of airplane passengers on backflow at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on D+2 Lebaran 2023.

"So, although the increase in passengers with an occupancy rate of 90 percent can be handled better. On time performance (OTP) or timeliness is also well maintained," said the Minister of Transportation, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, April 25.

He also revealed that the number of passenger movements at Soekarno-Hatta Airport during the Lebaran 2023 homecoming period increased significantly, which was 25 percent compared to 2022.

Related to this, he said the increase in the movement of passengers and planes on the 2023 Lebaran homecoming flow was good news for the revival of the national aviation industry after being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Although it is not the same as in 2019, economically there has been a movement that provides benefits for airport and airline operators. This is good news for us," he said.

Meanwhile, to deal with the backflow surge, the Minister of Transportation asked all aviation sector stakeholders to continue the good performance that has been shown on the homecoming flow.

In addition, he also reminded flight operators to continue to prioritize safety aspects in the midst of the increasing movement of passengers.

Based on data from Angkasa Pura (AP) II as the manager of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, not only the number of passengers has increased, the number of aircraft movements has also increased by 5 percent compared to 2022.

The number of aircraft flights has a peak day of homecoming flow (19-21 April 2023) reaching above 1,000 flights per day. Prior to the pandemic, Soekarno-Hatta Airport served an average of 1,200 flights every day.

Meanwhile, in the midst of the pandemic in 2022 and early 2023, the number of flights on regular days ranges from 800-900 flights per day.

Soekarno-Hatta Airport became the busiest airport managed by AP II during the period of homecoming. Then Kualanamu Airport (Deli Serdang), Halim Perdanakusuma (Jakarta), Sultan Syarif Kasim II (Pekanbaru), and Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport (Palembang).