JAKARTA - PT Garuda Maintenance Facility Aero Asia Tbk (GMF) signed a memorandum of understanding with Angkasa Pura Airports (Persero). Located at the Angkasa Pura I Office, this memorandum of understanding was signed by GMF President Director Andi Fahrurrozi and AP I President Director Faik Fahmi. This memorandum of understanding became the initial basis for GMF and AP I to explore cooperation in land management owned by AP I at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar for the development and operation of the hangar in the future.
Faik Fahmi in his speech said that Makassar’s position is strategic to work on markets in the central and eastern parts of Indonesia. “Air transportation in the central and eastern regions of Indonesia is one of the pillars in encouraging the movement of passengers and cargo because it offers easier and faster access than other modes of transportation. This makes Makassar a potential market to reach the central and eastern regions of Indonesia,” Faik said. To capture this potential, collaboration between the two parties in managing the land is established to attract investors in the construction of the hangar and its supporting facilities, thereby creating a multiplier effect such as job creation, economic acceleration, and added value for stakeholders.
This collaboration is also in line with GMF’s business plan of capturing aircraft maintenance opportunities as the aviation industry gradually recovers. Andi admitted that the current situation of the pandemic hitting the aviation sector prompted GMF to ensure that the performance recovery strategy can be implemented optimally. “The recovery strategy remains our focus at this time. However, we are optimistic that the aviation industry can recover quickly in the next few years. This collaboration is an opportunity for us to prepare ourselves to seize opportunities and anticipate this momentum,” Andi said.
By operating a hangar in Makassar, which is close to customers in the central and eastern parts of Indonesia, the ease of access offered is expected to help reduce operating costs for airline operators and strengthen the aviation industry in the domestic regions.
For information, Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar has currently been developed, the development includes the passenger terminal expansion to an area of 166,815 m2 with a capacity of 15 million passengers per year from the existing terminal area of 51,815 m2 with a capacity of 7 million passengers per year. In addition, the apron was also expanded to 385,346 m2 (53 parking stands capacity) from the existing area of only 185,500 m2 (42 parking stands capacity). This development is targeted for completion in May 2022.
