Tourism Minister Promises Affordable Airline Tickets By the End of the Year

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno in a weekly press briefing on Monday claims airline ticket prices have gone down by 15 percent, which he believes will open up greater potential for the development of the tourism and creative economy sector. 

According to him, the price reduction can be linked to the number of airlines that have increased their fleets, such as flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Lion Group, Air Asia, and a number of international airlines. 

Both Garuda and Citilink are set to increase their fleet from 61 to 120 by the end of this year, he added.

“Airline tickets will be more affordable, especially during the peak end-of-holiday and year-end periods,” said the Minister at the Tourism and Creative Economy headquarters on August 29.

He asserted that the Ministry will push for airliners to open flight routes to new destinations as a means to attract more passengers and help solve the high airfare issue. 

Previously, the State-Owned Enterprise Ministry boosted discounted airline ticket programs on certain days to help attract more people to travel by air. SOEs Deputy Minister on Sunday said that the number of air carrier fleets saw a significant drop in number due to the Covid-19 pandemic and this fleet scarcity contributed to the high airfares, apart from the increasing cost of jet fuel.

He argues that adding the number of fleets is one of the many strategies meant to stabilize airline tariff. 

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI | BISNIS

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