TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The number of passengers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport experienced a decrease compared to previous Eid Al-Fitr periods. State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II recorded that the number of passengers as of Saturday, May 23, 2020, was around 1,600 passengers.

"Meanwhile, the estimated flight for today is around 60 frequency. This is below the average daily flights during the transportation limitation period," said Angkasa Pura II Vice President of Communication Yado Yaerismano to Tempo on May 23, 2020.

Previously, the average daily flights was around 100 to 120 flights. This means that during Eid Al-Fitr, the number of flights decreased by more than 50 percent.

Meanwhile, compared to last year, the number of flights and passengers this year is far below the normal average. During Eid Al-Fitr period before the Covid-19 pandemic, Yado said that there can be 1,200 flights per day, while the number of passengers could reach up to 200,000 passengers per day.

"So if we calculate it, the average flight traffic during this transportation limitation period is only eight to ten percent of normal traffic," Yado said. Meanwhile, the number of passengers during the Covid-19 pandemic is around 2.5 percent of normal traffic.

Director of flag carrier Garuda Indonesia Irfan Setiaputra, also said that the number of flights has decreased drastically compared to the normal Eid Al-Fitr period. Meanwhile, the occupancy rate does not even reach 50 percent of the airline's total seat capacity.

"This year's Eid Al-Fitr is unique and different from previous years. But we must get used to situations like this," Irfan said.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA