TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Lion Air and Garuda Indonesia planned to integrate the maintenance facilities to suppress production cost.

“Pak Rusdi says the two airlines are discussing an agreement to combine the maintenance facility. So the cost will be more efficient,” said the secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Susiwijono, Monday, July 22.

Susiwijono explained the government and related stakeholders in the aviation industry were canvassing a long term plan regarding cost efficiency–including the integration of aircraft maintenance facility.

He went on to say that Rusdi Kirana, who is the founder and CEO of Lion Air, mentioned other efforts to reduce the cost, such as the establishment of a workshop in the country for the aircraft tire maintenance that was often done in Thailand. This, he added, could also boost the consumption of domestic rubber.

“So we think about a synergy, a collaboration on some flight operational requirements that are managed individually thus far,” Susiwijono said.

The government is also mulling to grant a special incentive for aircraft maintenance that might be in the form of a special economic zone (KEK) in the service sector. “There will be a KEK medical service and education service. Perhaps, the maintenance service can be free of value-added tax,” he added.

MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO