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A SURGE in flights at the Soekarno Hatta International Airport amid the Eid al-Fitr exodus period was a sign of a recovery of the aviation industry, according to Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi.
While visiting the airport in Tangerang City, Banten Province, on Friday (4/29), Sumadi noted that the number of flights at the airport had reached 1,054 on D-4 of Eid al-Fitr, or on April 28, 2022. The number was the highest count of flights during the COVID-19 pandemic period, he pointed out.
“I am delighted. It is the first time that it has surpassed one thousand flights in the past two years during the pandemic,” he remarked.
Furthermore, the minister assessed that the achievement demonstrates that the aviation sector is still able to serve customers optimally in the midst of limited number of aircraft. Currently, the operational duration of each aircraft is increased, from eight flights to 10 flights per day, he remarked.
“In addition, the operational hours of the airports are extended. Moreover, some of them, such as the Soekarno Hatta Airport, operate up to 24 hours,” he stated.
Hence, on account of the increasing flight activities, he urged all aviation stakeholders to continue to improve their services.
“I laud the collaboration of the aviation actors and the police, who have secured the airport well,” he stated.
On the same occasion, President Director of Airnav Indonesia Polana B. Pramesti noted that D-4 of Eid al-Fitr was forecast to be the peak of the exodus trip at the Soekarno Hatta Airport.
“However, today (Friday, April 29), it seems that the number of flights had started to decrease,” she noted.
Meanwhile, President Director of state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II Muhammad Awaluddin stated that 1,013,000 passengers had been served by 20 airports managed by the company on April 22-28, 2022.
“The five most favourite destinations of the passengers are Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, Medan, and Balikpapan,” he remarked.
Thus, taking into account the situation, he assessed that the government’s regulation on the 2022 Eid al-Fitr exodus had received a positive response from the community.
“We are grateful that a surge in the number of flights do not occur on D-2 or D-1 of the 2022 Eid al-Fitr holiday period,” he added. [antaranews]
