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THIS YEAR 2021 is marked by the presence of airports that are empty of passengers. The lack of passengers certainly has an impact on financial performance which is not optimal. In the midst of these conditions, President Joko Widodo chose to continue to build and inaugurate a new airport in 2021. So, what are the prospects for next year?
The following is a complete summary of deserted airports in 2021:
Yogyakarta International Airport
Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) Airport, an international airport that President Jokowi once called one of the best airports in Indonesia, is still quiet. This airport began construction in 2018 and was inaugurated directly by Jokowi on August 28, 2020.
Passenger traffic at Yogyakarta New Airport (YIA) during January-November 2021 (11 months) was recorded at only 1.2 million passengers. For the size of the new airport with a capacity of 20 million passengers per year, the passenger traffic recorded until November is indeed still very far from capacity.
The new Yogyakarta airport in Kulon Progo is said to be the cause of the swelling debt of PT Angkasa Pura I (AP I) which has now reached IDR35 trillion. AP I’s debt burden has increased because a number of the new airports it manages are empty of passengers.
Purbalingga Airport
From October to November, there were no flights that stopped at Jenderal Besar Sudirman Airport, Purbalingga. From checking online travel, there were no sales of flight tickets from or to the airport.
The airport itself is still operating, as said VP Corporate Communication of PT Angkasa Pura II, Yado Yarismano. “For the airport, we are still operating. For the airline, maybe we can confirm it with our airline friends,” Yado said.
While responding to the non-sale of flight tickets for Purbalingga Airport, the President Director of Citilink Indonesia answered diplomatically. “Citilink has not stopped flights to Purbalingga, route permits and schedules are still valid, namely every Thursday and Saturday from Halim Perdanakusuma and Surabaya,” said Juliandra Nurtjahjo.
The latest information, on November 25, 2021, Citilink has just reopened the Jakarta-Purbalingga and Surabaya-Purbalingga flight routes with a schedule of 2 times a week.
Kertajati Airport
Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, there have been no commercial flights at Kertajati Airport, Majalengka. In early 2021, the airport will start serving cargo flights.
According to the President Director of PT Bandarudara Internasional Jawa Barat (BIJB), Salahudin Rafi, the potential for passengers at Kertajati Airport is actually quite large. However, access, especially from the city of Bandung, is still not affordable.
“I feel that the problem can be solved when the Cisumdawu Toll Road is operational. So, while waiting for the Cisumdawu toll road to operate, which is currently being pursued until the end of the year, it will operate in early 2022. These speeds up access from Bandung City to Kertajati by only 45 minutes via the toll road,” said Salahudin.
In the midst of deserted passengers, Jokowi Inaugurates a New Airport
The lack of airplane passengers does not stop President Jokowi from building a new airport in 2021. Recently, Jokowi inaugurated Ngloram Airport, located in Cepu District, Blora Regency, Central Java, on Friday (17/12). In addition, the Tebelian Airport in Sintang Regency, West Kalimantan Province has also been inaugurated by Jokowi on Wednesday (8/12).
Not only airports, Jokowi inaugurated the Nindya Karya Project, Mopah Airport Terminal Building on Sunday (3/10). Mopah Airport is a class I airport with a terminal building area of about 3624 m², which is located in Rimba Jaya, Merauke District, Merauke Regency, Papua. The Kuabang Airport Terminal, North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province, was also inaugurated by Jokowi on Wednesday (24/3).
Quiet Airport, What Are the Prospects?
Aviation observer Arista Atmaji admitted that he would not be surprised if there were still airports built by Jokowi that were still quiet. He gave an example that YIA Airport is still empty of passengers because it has only been inaugurated for less than 2 years plus the COVID-19 pandemic.
YIA, which is located in Kulon Progo, has just been inaugurated by President Jokowi in the midst of a pandemic situation, namely August 2020. Arista believes that in the long-term YIA will provide benefits.
“That’s if in trade theory, economic theory can’t get an airport as big as it can’t return (capital) within two years, especially plus a pandemic, put the pandemic for two years and can’t do anything,” Arista remarked.
Arista emphasized that the airport has not been able to directly benefit in two years. So, it takes time for YIA to move and there are many passengers. I believe YIA will be full of passengers in the long run. Because, said Arista, Yogya is a tourism area which is also crowded with foreign tourists.
Jokowi Asked to Stop Building New Airports, Better Maintain Existing One
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) ordered repairs at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport because the runway was not smooth. The momentum for the improvement of Halim Perdanakusuma Airport should be followed for other airports in Indonesia. Instead of creating a new airport, it is better to optimize the existing old airport.
“It is better to stop building or upgrading new airports. Optimizing the maintenance of existing airports first while looking at the trend of recovering passenger movements in 2022,” Arista underlined.
Arista admits that currently the movement of airplane passengers is still not so crowded due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He hopes that the government will also pay attention to the fate of airports, especially those outside Java. [kumparan/photo special]
