Kualanamu Airport Opens Direct Flight to India

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The North Sumatra Kualanamu International Airport is set to introduce a direct flight to India at the end of 2022, as an attempt to increase international passengers.

“The flight share between India and ASEAN is pretty large and currently has no direct routine flights connecting Indonesia and India,” said President director of state airport operator Angkasa Pura Aviasi, Achmad Rifai, in a written statement on September 21. 

Roundtrip flights to India from Kualanamu Airport will be served by regular scheduled flights. Travelers from India generally enter Indonesia through other ASEAN countries, which referring to data on tourism amount to 12 percent.

"This portion is quite large and Kualanamu Airport will open direct flights to and from India so that 12 percent of these travelers can go directly to Indonesia without going through other ASEAN countries," said Achmad Rifai.

The Angkasa Pura Aviasi CEO explained that a national airline and IndiGo Airlines are discussing opening more routes to Indian cities such as Delhi, Hyderabad, and Calcutta to Medan. 

"AP II collaborates with airlines to make Kualanamu Airport an international hub so that together we can accelerate tourism and industrial growth in North Sumatra," said AP II President Director Muhammad Awaluddin.

Achmad Rifai said that currently, the portion of international passengers in Banda Kualanamu is still low, specifically below 10 percent of the total passengers. In line with the development into an international hub, the share of passengers on international routes will be increased to around 40 percent.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA

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