Jakarta (ANTARA) - Airfares during the Eid al-Fitr exodus departure flow remained reasonable and did not exceed the set price ceiling, according to Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi."
Thanks to airport operators that have controlled the surge in air passengers well and to airlines that have been cooperative in maintaining the prices in accordance with the government's recommendation," he said, according to an official statement received on Tuesday.
He made the statement while reviewing the handling of air passengers during the exodus return flow period at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday.
Sumadi explained that the policies implemented during the departure period helped make the exodus flow smooth. These included the policy to advance collective leave days, which extended the exodus departure period, he noted.
"Thus, even though the surge in passengers was high, with an occupancy rate of more than 90 percent, it could be handled properly. The on-time performance (OTP) or punctuality was also maintained well," he informed.
According to the minister, the movement of passengers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport during the Eid exodus departure period increased by 25 percent compared to 2022.
He said that the increase in passenger and plane movements is good news for the revival of the national airline industry, which was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
To face the surge in passengers during the exodus return period, he asked all stakeholders in the aviation sector to continue the good performance shown in the departure period.
In addition, he also reminded flight operators to continue to prioritize safety amid the increase in passenger traffic.
Based on data provided by state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II (AP II), the operator of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, apart from passenger traffic, the movement of planes experienced a 5-percent increase compared to 2022.
The number of flights during the peak of the Eid exodus departure period (April 19–21, 2023) crossed 1 thousand per day. Before the pandemic, Soekarno-Hatta Airport served 1,200 flights on average per day.
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Meanwhile, amid the pandemic, in 2022 and early 2023, the number of flights at the airport on normal days stood at around 800–900 per day.