Jakarta. Airport operator Angkasa Pura II (AP II) and aviation stakeholders recently held a meeting in Lampung with talks focusing on what ways they could collaborate to improve airport connectivity and boost tourism.

Representatives from the national airlines, the Indonesia Airport Slot Management (IASM), and the Lampung offices of the government’s tourism agency, Bank Indonesia, as well as the Indonesian Young Entrepreneur Association (Hipmi) were present. The Transport Ministry was also in attendance.

“A collaboration between the aviation ecosystem stakeholders is important. That is why AP II always holds meetings with the stakeholders at the beginning of every year,” Cin Asmoro, the VP of corporate communication at AP II, was quoted as saying in a recent press statement. 

"In the meeting, AP II, airlines and stakeholders had the same view on strengthening air connectivity to support tourism development and economic growth,” Cin Asmoro said. 

The airlines present at the meeting were Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air, Super Air Jet, Wings Air, Pelita Air and AirAsia Indonesia.

AP II ensures the availability of slot time (availability of time for flight departure and arrival at the airport) needed by airlines to operate flights. 

"The slot plan for 2024 at 20 AP II airports cumulatively reaches 294,472 slots throughout the year. AL II and the airlines will continue to discuss optimizing the slot time for the flights," Cin Asmoro said. 

AP II is aiming to record 91.08 million passengers across 20 airports this year, marking a 13 percent increase from 80.25 million passengers the previous year. The 2024 passenger target reflects a recovery rate of more than 100 percent of pre-pandemic levels in 2019, namely around 90.77 million passengers.

"We are optimistic that we can achieve this target through collaboration with all stakeholders to provide the best service for airplane passengers," Cin Asmoro said.

AP II seeks to reach around 674,160 aircraft movements this year, marking an increase of 12 percent compared to last year’s figures of 599,600 aircraft. 

Since early 2024, AP II airports have opened various new flight routes, reactivated flight routes that were closed due to the impact of the pandemic, and increased flight frequencies on existing routes.

All AP II airports have the potential to develop flight routes, as is the case at Radin Inten II Airport (Lampung). 

EGM Radin Inten II Airport Untung Basuki said Lampung has tourist destinations. Data shows that Lampung attracted the third most domestic tourists in Sumatra in January-September 2023, reaching 10.26 million tourists.

"Radin Inten II Airport is committed to continuing to support tourism growth in Lampung. We have held several meetings with airlines to reactivate old routes that operated prior to the pandemic, as well as opening new routes to and from Radin Inten II Airport, Lampung. Following the opening of new routes to Denpasar by AirAsia and to Yogyakarta by Lion Air in January, there will be 1 new airline operating at Radin Inten II Airport in the near future," Untung Basuki said. 

Radin Inten II Airport is supported by runway facilities measuring 2,770 meters x 45 meters which can support the operation of narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 as well as the Apron which can accommodate up to 12 aircraft parking stands.

EGM Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport (Pekanbaru) Radityo Ari Purwoko also commented on the meeting. 

"AP II's meeting with the national airline is a momentum in working together to increase the contribution of Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport to tourism and the economy in Pekanbaru," Radityo Ari Purwoko said.

EGM Sultan Thaha Airport (Jambi) Siswanto said that flight traffic in Jambi is projected to increase this year. 

"Tourism in Jambi is increasingly growing, and Sultan Thaha Airport as the entry point for tourists is committed to providing the best service for tourists and the entire Jambi community," Siswanto said.