Several airports starting to cut operating hours
This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Investor Daily: Sejumlah bandara mulai pangkas jam operasional
13 April 2020
Jakarta – Several airports are starting to cut their operating hours to prevent Covid-19 from spreading and to optimise their services. These airports are Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport/SSK II (Pekanbaru), Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport/SIM (Aceh), Tjilik Riwut Airport (Palangka Raya), Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport (Palembang), Depati Amir Airport (Pangkalpinang), and Minangkabau International Airport (Padang Pariaman).
PT Angkasa Pura (AP) I, as the operator of Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport (SSK II) in Pekanbaru, Riau, is cutting the operating hours of the airport by four hours to prevent Covid-19 from spreading.
SSK II Airport Executive General Manager Yogi Prasetyo explained that there were 26 aircrafts left that carry out departures and arrivals at the airport. Previously, he also said that the number of passengers decreased by 50% from the normal condition which had 10 thousand passengers daily.
“The data on 10 April 2020 shows that there are 12 aircrafts arriving and 14 aircrafts departing, which totals to 26 movements,” Yogi said in Pekanbaru on Sunday (12/4).
The decision of the management of Angkasa Pura II, based on Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) number B0885/29, changes the operating hours of Pekanbaru Airport to 06:00 AM-08:00 PM WIB (Indonesian Western Standard Time). The operating hours is cut by four hours from 06:00 AM-12:00 AM WIB.
Next, PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero) for Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport (SIM) in Blang Bintang, Aceh Besar, has also adjusted the operating hours of the airport to optimise services and to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“This policy has been approved by the regulator with the issuance of a Notice to Airmen on airport operating hours,” Executive General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura II for Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport, Indra Gunawan, said in Aceh Besar on Saturday (11/4).
He explained that the newest operating hours of Sultan Iskandar Muda (Aceh), in line with NOTAM A0937, was 08:00 AM-06:00 PM WIB, effective from 5 to 15 April 2020. Previously, the operating hours is 06:00 AM-10:00 PM WIB.
Then, Tjilik Riwut Airport in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan also has new operating hours to optimise services and prevent Covid-19 from spreading.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, we are operating with shorter operating hours compared to normal conditions,” Executive General Manager of AP II for Tjilik Riwut Airport said in Palangka Raya last weekend.
The newest operating hours of Tjilik Riwut Airport during the Covid-19 emergency, in line with NOTAM C0410/20, is 05:00 AM-06:00 PM WIB, effective from 10 April to 11 May 2020. The previous operating hours is 05:00 AM-08:30 PM WIB.
Only three routes
Meanwhile, flights at Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport in Palembang will only have three routes after the operating hours was cut by PT Angkasa Pura II due to Covid-19. SMB II Airport Palembang Acting General Manager Ahmad Dedy, on Saturday (11/4), said that the three routes were to and from Soekarno-Hatta Airport (Tangerang), Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport (Jakarta), and Hang Nadim Airport (Batam).
“Airlines that are operational are Batik, Citilink, and Garuda with six departures and six arrivals,” Ahmad Dedy said.
According to him, the reduced operating hours of SMB II Palembang Airport, which is 06:00 AM-06:00 PM WIB from 05:00 AM-12:00AM WIB, will be effective from 11 to 30 April 2020. Despite the reduced operating hours, the airport management will still provide special flights, such as logistics transport, charter flights, or unscheduled emergency landings.
Then, the management of Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang, Bangka Belitung Islands has also reduced their operating hours after flight schedules were limited. Depati Amir Airport General Manager M. Syahril, on Saturday in Pangkalpinang, said that operating hours was reduced after a decision was made by the board of directors of PT Angkasa Pura II.
“Through the decision, Depati Amir Airport will only operate for nine hours, for 08:00 AM WIB to 05:00 PM WIB,” he said.
The operating hours was reduced as flight schedules at Depati Amir Airport was also cut to only a flight daily. The reduced operating hours will be effective for 14 days from 8 to 21 April 2020.
“It depends on the government if the one flight a day [policy] will continue,” he said.
Meanwhile, the management of Minangkabau International Airport in Padang Pariaman, Sumatra Barat, will reduce their operating hours starting from 14 April 2020.
“Starting from 14 April 2020 until 14 May 2020, Minangkabau International Airport will operate from 08:00 AM WIB to 08:00 PM WIB, where previously it operated from 05:00 AM WIB to 12:00 AM WIB,” the Executive General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura II for Minangkabau International Airport Yos Suwagiyono said in Padang Pariaman on Saturday.
