PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II (Persero) increases the role of its airports by increasing and expanding connectivity. In total of new seven domestic and international routes are opened at three airports; Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport, Pekanbaru; Banyuwangi International Airport; and Husein Sastranegara International Airport, Bandung.
On August 9, 2019, a flight service from Sultan Syarif Kasim II to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport or Subang Skypark, Malaysia was opened. The Pekanbaru-Subang route and vice versa are operated by Malindo Air four times a week. Therefore, Sultan Syarif Kasim II serves international flight routes to three cities in Malaysia; Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, and Subang, and also to Singapore.
Ph. APP SVP Corporate Secretary, Achmad Rifai, said, “Through good synergy between the aviation industries’ stakeholders at Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport, the Pekanbaru-Subang route can be opened from 9 August.” The opening of this route is to support economic growth and tourism in Indonesia, especially in Riau Province.
“Pekanbaru is the third largest city in Sumatra. It is known for its plantation industry and has a number of tourist destinations. Opening more flight routes can support the acceleration of economic growth and tourism,” Achmad said.
On the same day, flights from Husein Sastranegara also opened flights to Fatmawati Soekarno Airport in Bengkulu, Sultan Thaha Airport in Jambi, Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang, and HAS Hanandjoeddin Airport in Tanjung Pandan. All flights are operated by Wings Air with ATR 72 propellers.
“Husein Airport is still operating optimally, although all domestic flights by jet have been moved to Kertajati Airport,” Achmad said. It also operate as a flight arrangement with the concept of multi airport system in West Java, which is run by AP II.
AP II also thanked all parties who supported this arrangement to balance flight traffic in West Java. “Through Husein and Kertajati, the aviation sector can be optimal in supporting the economy and tourism in West Java Province,” Achmad said.
Not to forget from Banyuwangi, which opens flights to I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar, Bali. This flight is operated by Citilink Indonesia with an Airbus A320 aircraft. A day later (10/8/2019), Banyuwangi also opened a new route to Syamsuddin Noor Airport in Banjarmasin which was operated by Express Air.
Achmad said, this new route is an attractive alternative for tourists because it connects two famous tourist destinations in Indonesia. “Bali is a major tourist destination that is widely known throughout the world, while Banyuwangi is developing rapidly as a new tourist destination. The existence of Banyuwangi direct flight routes to Denpasar and Banjarmasin can encourage national tourism growth and become more diverse,” Achmad explained.
Reported in bahasa by Reni Rohmawati