Palembang, South Sumatra (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Transportation is seeking to resume international flights from Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin (SMB) II Airport in Palembang, South Sumatra, Deputy Minister of Transportation Sutana said.
Speaking to local journalists here Thursday, he said it is essential to reactivate international flights to meet the needs of the community.
Moreover, routes that were previously active before the COVID-19 pandemic, namely to Malaysia and Singapore, were very popular among the people of South Sumatra, especially for those traveling for medical treatment, business, and tourism purposes.
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"God willing, after the Christmas-New Year period, these flights will be operated again. All we have to do is wait for the rules to be changed," he said.
According to Sutana, the proposal is also in line with the direction of President Prabowo Subianto, who has requested that airports that earlier served international flights be reactivated.
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"SMB II Airport in Palembang is ready in terms of infrastructure. We only need to adjust the rules so that these international flights can be realized," he affirmed.
The deputy minister further said that the Ministry of Transportation is ready to support the steps of the South Sumatra provincial government and the Palembang city government to reopen the international flight routes.
"In principle, the government supports all efforts that are needed to improve the investment climate and economic growth, especially in South Sumatra," he said.
