TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Airline ticket prices finally declined as per today, May 20. Prices dropped after Transportation Minister Budi Karya issued a decree on the top limit tariff for economy seats by domestic airlines last week on May 15.

At Traveloka.com, the ticket price from Jakarta to Padang by Lion Air, for flights on the day before Eid, dropped fromRp1.66 million to Rp1.24 million, or by more than 25%.

On the Day of the Eid, the ticket price is down by 14.4% to Rp1.42 million. These are the cheapest prices for the route using a low cost carrier.

The price cuts came following a statement by Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi the day before.

Read also: Lion Air Lowers Airlines Tariff by 25 Percent

"Starting today, airfares will hopefully decline. Additionally, there would also be several transitions and campaign for 50%. Hopefully that would also reduce ticket prices," he said in Brebes, Central Java, Monday, May 20.

Budi said that based on regulations, ticket prices must go down two days after the Minister's Decree was issued. "[Airlines are] given a week, if by one week they have not complied, we will not serve the airline to do daily work," he said.

The Transportation Ministry decided to lower the top and bottom limits of airfares for the Jakarta-Padang route. The top limit is cut to Rp1.47 million while the bottom low is set at just Rp517,000.

ANTARA