TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan highly urged a number of Indonesian air carriers to drop its airfares following a meeting between the maritime affairs ministry, transportation ministry, air carriers, and entrepreneurs in tourism held on Monday, March 25.

Based on the official notes from the meeting, Luhut requested that the move is initially done by state-carrier Garuda Indonesia, which he expects will be followed by other air carriers.

“Garuda Indonesia as the leading national airlines must soon drop its airfares, and that is an order,” said Luhut as quoted from the official meeting notes.

In the name of national interest, Luhut also wants the permit for AKR Corporindo to be immediately approved so it would quickly fill the role as Pertamina’s competitor in providing air carriers with jet fuel or avtur.

Responding to Minister Luhut Pandjaitan’s order, Garuda Indonesia Group through its VP Corporate Secretary Ikhsan Rosan said that it’s still waiting for the government’s official policy on the airfare drop.

“Principally, we must be careful in deciding the new tariff since it must recalculate the entire cost structure. However, we will adhere to the government’s orders,” said Ikhsan on Tuesday, March 26.

Read: Garuda Indonesia to Comply with Government's Order on Airfare

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA