Air Transportation Users Drop 27 Percent in 2019 Eid Homecoming

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Transportation Ministry’s research and development board (Balitbang) recorded that the number of airplane users dropped by 27.37 percent in the 2019 Eid homecoming season, or equal to 1.32 million people.

This year’s figure only reached 3.52 million people, while 2018 saw 4.85 million people.

This decline also illustrated a 2.42 percent drop in the number of Eid travelers this year, as most travelers in the 2018 Eid homecoming season resorted to air transportation—accounting for 26 percent of the total 18.49 million people.

Balitbang head Sugihardjo said the psychological factor due to the skyrocketing airfares prior to the Eid celebrations was a major contributor to the decline. 

Read: Eid 2019; Airplane Passengers in AP I Airports Drop by 18pct

He went on to say that the implementation of the Minister’s Decree No. 106 Year 2019 had resulted in lower price ceiling of airfares by 14-16 percent. Thus, he added, airfares during the 2019 Eid homecoming season were lower than the highest ticket price in that of 2018.

“Except for the Jakarta-Makassar route,” he said.

Other reasons affecting the number of airplane passengers is the availability of the Trans Java Toll Road and the numerous homecoming free transportation programs offered by either private or state-owned enterprises.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO