Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno asked airlines to increase the number of aircraft operating and flight schedules.
This appeal is in response to the Ministry of Transportation’s findings regarding a number of airlines setting fares that exceed the upper limit.
Sandi believes that increasing the number of aircraft is still possible. Because the number currently operating is still lower than before the Covid-19 pandemic occurred.
“We want to increase the number of aircraft and flying hours. Because before the pandemic the number of aircraft operating was 700, now it is 400, so there is a deficit of 300. This deficit is what causes ticket prices to be expensive due to minimum seat availability. We continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Transportation and BUMN, ” said Sandi at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy’s End of Year Press Conference in Jakarta, Friday (22/12/2023).
Sandi discovered the high price of plane tickets himself. He said that when he visited Belitung, he was held at gunpoint by a local taxi driver who asked that ticket prices be made cheaper so that more tourists would visit.
“He mentioned a figure of 1.2 million. This is homework for us. We really regret that an airline violates the upper tariff limit because it is part of the regulations,” he said.
Sandi admitted that airline companies had indeed gone through difficult times during the three years of the Covid-19 pandemic. That’s why he suggested that airlines should operate more planes and fly more hours so that tickets can be more affordable and airlines can make a reasonable profit.
The high price of plane tickets could also be an obstacle for the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to achieve the target number of foreign tourist visits, as well as the movement of domestic tourists.
“Now is the time to rise together with more aircraft, so that ticket prices are affordable, airlines can make reasonable profits and travelers can get affordable prices,” concluded Sandi.
The Ministry of Tourism itself has set a target of getting 9.4 million to 14.3 million foreign tourist visits by 2024. And domestic tourist movements of up to 1.25 billion in the same year.