Carriers Boost Air Cargo Services During the Pandemic

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National air carriers have agreed to boost air cargo services as its main strategy in facing the low demand of passenger flights during the country’s emergency public activity restriction (Emergency PPKM).

President director of flag-carrier Garuda Indonesia, Irfan Setiaputra, said on Tuesday that he supports the government’s initiative to control the spread of Covid-19 with the pandemic restriction and is why the carrier has adjusted its flight schedules and frequency to the existing demands.

As of August, the carrier decided to operate 11 international destinations which focus on cargo widebody freighter services consisting of flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Sydney, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, and Jeddah.

“For sure Garuda will continue to boost air cargo-based flights,” said Setiaputra on August 3, bisnis.com reported. 

Echoing Garuda, Sriwijaya Air representative also said that the effects of this year’s PPKM restriction is not much better than last year’s large-scale social restriction (PSBB) in terms of dropping flight passengers. Management stated that alternatives such as cargo services and chartered flights amidst difficult times are in its plans. 

Meanwhile,  Indonesia National Air Carrier Association (INACA) chairperson Denon Prawiratmadja has pushed air carriers to boost their cargo flight businesses, which he said has not been deeply affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also stated that air cargo services have a number of benefits compared to other means of transportation considering Indonesia’s geography. 

Read: Garuda Indonesia Raises Air Cargo Fees

BISNIS