Economic recovery: Airlines begin to carry passengers
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.
Bisnis Indonesia: Pemulihan ekonomi: Maskapai mulai angkut penumpang
27 August 2020
By: Redaksi
Bisnis, Bandung – Aviation services to and from Bandung that go through Husein Sastranegara Airport are starting to be opened after the new normal implementation.
Several airlines are starting to open flight routes in Husein Sastranegara Airport, even though the flight routes are limited. One of the airlines that will reopen flight services in Husein Sastranegara Airport is Garuda Indonesia.
The state-owned airline is planning to open two routes on 28 August 2020, which are Bandung-Denpasar (Round trip) and Bandung-Kualanamu (Round trip). The airline will operate three times a week on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
Garuda Indonesia Bandung Branch Office Sales and Service Manager, Tessa Adelina admits that carrying passengers was one of the solutions to revive the economic wheel of Bandung. Until now, Bandung has always relied on tourists to generate revenue.
“We hope that, amid the new normal, public demand for aviation services will keep increasing. Moreover, with the support and the synergy of aviation stakeholders to provide safe and comfortable aviation services for consumers,” she said on Wednesday (26/8).
She admits that she will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders so that the tourism ecosystem can grow together in harmony. Besides that, for operation, her company is committed to impose tight health protocols.
“We are continuously maximizing the accessibility of aviation by cooperating with all related stakeholders, especially through the readiness of the tourism sector and the full support of regional governments,” she said.
Meanwhile, Bandung Regional Secretary Ema Sumarna mentioned that, as the state-owned airline had operated once again, they were expected to be able to accelerate the economic wheel of Bandung.
“We are welcoming this step as we see that, despite being in a pandemic, the economic wheel must continue to turn,” Ema said.
Ema admits that she is optimistic about accelerating the economy of Bandung as the routes have been opened. A study conducted by Markplus Institute shows that 80% of the respondents surveyed admitted that they miss traveling to Bandung. Most of them are targeting fashion and culinary tourisms.
“Our tourism [sector] is starting to grow even if it has yet to fully recover. However, on the other hand, we must also be aware of the impacts of this virus outbreak as the pandemic is still present,” he said.
Hence, Ema asked airlines to continue implementing tight health protocols on flights as her agency must maintain Bandung to be conducive amid the dynamic pandemic situation.
Besides Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air and Citilink have also ensured to reopen aviation services in Husein Sastranegara. There are at least six flight routes that will be provided by the two airlines.
Lion group will provide Bandung-Makassar route, Bandung-Denpasar route, and Bandung-Kualanamu route. Moreover, Citilink’s routes will include Bandung-Kualanamu, Bandung Palembang, Bandung-Pekanbaru, and Bandung-Denpasar.
Husein Airport has been accommodating jet aircraft flights again on 20 August 2020, based on letter Number AU.004/3/20/DRJU.DAU.2020 on Reorganisation of Flight Routes in Husein Sastranegara International Airport, Bandung, and Kertajati International Airport, Majalengka Regency.
“According to the letter, Husein Sastranegara Airport can accommodate domestic scheduled flights with propeller aircrafts and jet aircrafts for routes that are bound for and originate from Medan, Pekanbaru, Palembang, Balikpapan, Denpasar, and Makassar,” Husein Sastranegara Airport Executive General Manager, R. Iwan Winaya Mahdar said recently.
Iwan mentioned that his company was thankful to be able to play a role in improving and driving the economy of Bandung by accommodating the operation of jet aircrafts.
Husein Sastranegara Airport last accommodated jet aircrafts in June 2019 as the operation of all jet aircrafts was moved to Kertajati Airport in Majalengka Regency in July 2019. Amid this pandemic, the regulator is reorganising several routes, so several jet aircraft routes are accommodated by Husein Sastranegara Airport again.
