PHRI Complains Jokowi of High Airfare, Avtur Monopoly

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The head of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), Hariyadi Sukamdani, expressed concerns faced by businessmen in hotel sector about high airfare, the monopoly on avtur sales, and paid baggage policy to President Joko Widodo or Jokowi.

“We are dealing with problems after the soaring prices of airline ticket since early January,” said Hariyadi during a gala dinner event in commemoration of PHRI 50th anniversary in Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jakarta, Monday evening, February 11.

Hariyadi reiterated that the condition had affected the hotel occupancy as the airfare rose up to 40 percent because state-owned airliner Garuda Indonesia dismissed its promo ticket for V, T, and Q economic class and enhanced higher-price ticket sales of Y economic class.

In addition, low-cost airliner Lion Air imposed paid baggage policy that Hariyadi opined as a cartel practice as that beset the public.

He continued to say that the two airliners raised domestic airfare due to the increase in avtur prices. Thus, he demanded the government grant an opportunity for other corporates, other than Pertamina, to market avtur in a bid to create a competitive price.

Further, Hariyadi suggested the government to allow new airliners to run aviation operational, add more flight routes, and well compete. “We believe President [Jokowi] stands on fair, efficient competition, as to encourage high competitiveness,” he concluded.

FRISKI RIANA