TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Garuda Indonesia airlines will increase the flight frequency at Blimbingsari Airport, Banyuwangi to twice a day from May 16, 2016. The decision was made after the issuance of the permit to increase Garuda Indonesia flight services of Surabaya-Banyuwangi route and vice versa by Directorate General for Air Transport of the Transportation Ministry.
At present, Garuda Indonesia flight schedule only serve one daily flight at Blimbingsari Airport namely Surabaya-Banyuwangi route at 11:35 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. and Banyuwangi-Surabaya at 1:05 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. After the issuance of the permit from Transport Ministry, Garuda will have an additional schedule of morning flight, namely Surabaya-Banyuwangi route at 6 a.m – 7 a.m. and Banyuwangi-Surabaya at 7:30 a.m. – 8:25 a.m.
“We gladly welcome the additional flight schedule of Garuda morning [flight], making it two flights a day. It’s a solution to the high volume of airline passengers that often leads to complaints about the lack of seats, either to Banyuwangi or vice versa. I hope it could trigger a surge in tourist arrival,” said Banyuwangi Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas on Wednesday, May 4, 2016.
In addition to new schedule of Surabaya-Banyuwangi route, Garuda Indonesia also plans to re-open Denpasar-Banyuwangi service. “I heard that the planned Denpasar-Banyuwangi service is ready, but we are still waiting for further confirmation about it,” Anas said.
The number of passengers at Blimbingsari Airport continues to grow after it started operation. It has significantly increased up to 1,308 percent from only 7,826 passengers in 2011 to 110,234 passengers in 2015.
Banyuwangi district administration has also arranged evening flights. It has prepared several infrastructures to achieve the target to start operation in 2016. “We hope that evening flights would offer a wider choice of flight schedules to Banyuwangi,” Anas said.
DAVID PRIYASIDHARTA
