TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Consumer`s Foundation (YLKI) urged the government act firm towards PT Lion Mentari Airlines following the Lion Air JT-610 crash. YLKI head Tulus Abadi said the regulator was getting weaken due to the domination of the budget airline in domestic flights.
“The government lacks supervision on them [Lion Air management] which was seen from frequent violations, but no clear changes occur,” said Tulus to Tempo on Monday, November 5.
YLKI, Tulus mentioned, received many complaints from the flight consumers for the past seven years. Although he did not detail the number, he deemed the government and Lion Air management did not respond it. “This is a serious threat for national flights, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may give negative sentiment,” he noted.
Tulus opined the government still took the side of the Lion Air regarding the route and flight expansion. While, in fact, the corporation did not provide adequate human resources for the program. “They [Lion Air] is freely allowed to add more routes. If it lacks resources, one of the impacts is a flight delay, and that has become a habit,” Tulus said.
Flight observer, Gerry Soejatman, said Lion Air had dominated 50 percent of domestic markets due to its various destination route.
Meanwhile, the airport operator delivered the same sentiment. State-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura I (AP I) Vice President Corporate Secretary Handy Heryudhitiawan said the occupancy of three carriers of the Lion Air group in 13 airports reached 60 percent. The percentage was above 30 percent in 15 airports managed by AP II.
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