Gov't to Evaluate Implementation of New Regulations on Airfare

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transportation Ministry's Directorate-General of Air Transport will supervise the implementation of the new regulations on airfare, that is done under the Law No. 1 on Flights, to protect the consumers and to maintain healthy competition among national airlines.

"We've been continuously conducting observation and discussion since the airfare hike by supervising the continuation of the aviation industry," Director-General of Air Transportation Polana B. Pramesti said in a written statement received by Tempo, Saturday, March 30. She hoped that all of the airlines could cope with the new regulations.

The Transportation Ministry has previously issued two new regulations on domestic flight ticket tariff; the calculation formula of minimum and maximum airfares. This was done following the public's complaint of the high airfare, especially for domestic flights, since mid-January 2019, even on the low season.

Polana said his ministry would evaluate airfare in every three-month to make sure that the domestic flight ticket is set based on the regulations. She added that the evaluation could also be done at any time on the event of significant changes affecting the continuation of the aviation industry.

The director-general also appreciated the airlines that had lowered their flight ticket tariffs and asked for the airlines to consistently lowering the airfare.

"We appreciate Garuda Indonesia for providing the discount to its consumers and Lion Air Group that has lowered its airfare. I hope that this will be followed by other airlines to increase the public's interest in using air transport," she remarked.

Dias Prasongko