TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transportation Ministry demanded online-based travel agent firms revamp their application displays so as to prevent public disinformation. The appeal was made following the recent viral issue on the rocketing price of flight tickets for the Bandung-Medan business class at Rp21 million on Traveloka.

“We demand Traveloka and other online travel agents (OTA) create a more enlightening display for the public,” said Air Transportation Director Maria Kristi Endah in a written statement, after a meeting with airliners Garuda Indonesia, Lion Group, and OTA, Friday, May 31.

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She explained that enlightening display meant that OTA must provide clear information regarding flight routes and flight classes on the ticket purchasing tab to keep the public from being trapped in high prices due to options of alternative routes.

Airfares on Traveloka have been in the public limelight since the firm pegged the price of a Bandung-Medan route at Rp21 million. Traveloka’s management later tried to shed light on the issue, saying the expensive ticket was because the flight was not a direct flight, but rather a transit route, including to Denpasar and Jakarta.

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The ticket sales of the transit route for the business class popped up on the price list because the economic flight tickets for the route sold out.

“Traveloka should inform [the public] if their domestic flight tickets sold out, while tickets they offer are for the business class,” Kristi underlined, urging OTA to coordinate with airline operators on ticket sales.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA