Minister: Don't Force Me to Issue Another Bill on Airfare

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that he would not draft a new regulation in which ruling airfare based on sub-price and subclasses in the near future. Budi Karya asserted that it was the last option should airlines would not set varies ticket fares.

“Don’t force me to [issue the policy]. I hope I should not have to do it if airlines provide varies affordable ticket price for people,” said Budi Karya when met in the Transportation Ministry building, on Monday, April 8.

According to Budi Karya, the regulation on airfare based on the sub-price and subclasses were not followed the international standard in which only stipulates the class, either economy or business.

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Directorate-General of Air Transport Polana B Pramesti, meanwhile, said that the government was still mulling to draft the sub-price bill considering airfare affairs is the business authority of airline corporates. The government, he added, could not intervene airlines in setting the rate.

Polana reiterated that airlines have much consideration in rising airfare. “There are many factors, such as avtur (Jet Fuel),” he said on April 5. Rather than applying the sub-price policy in the near period, Polana appealed to airlines to educate the public on the cause of the price hike.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA