JAKARTA – Angkasa Pura Airports recorded passenger traffic of 1,035,527 passenger movements at 15 airports in August 2021. The figure grew by 10 percent compared to passenger traffic in the previous month, July 2021, of 939,620 passenger movements.
Slight growth also occurred in aircraft traffic in August 2021 of 16,192 aircraft movements or grew 0.1 percent compared to aircraft traffic in July 2021 of 16,173 aircraft movements. Likewise, cargo traffic grew by 4.4 percent from 30,589,833 kg in July 2021 to 31,943,593 kg in August 2021.
“The implementation of Emergency PPKM policy from the beginning until the end of July 2021, followed by PPKM Level IV and III policy from August to September, caused flight traffic to drop dramatically. PT Angkasa Pura I supported the Government policy to reduce the surge in Covid-19 positive cases in the country since June. The decline in flight traffic was also an indicator of the success of the Emergency PPKM and Level IV and III policy, followed by a decrease in the number of confirmed Covid-19 positive cases,” said President Director of Angkasa Pura Airports, Faik Fahmi.
However, Faik Fahmi continued, Angkasa Pura Airports hopes that herd immunity will soon be realized along with the Government’s massive Covid-19 vaccination program, so that people may have their mobility unrestricted and can travel by air with a sense of security and comfort. Eventually, air traffic will start to bounce back and have a positive impact on business performance of business actors in the aviation and tourism sectors.
The highest passenger traffic in August was at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar of 273,722 passenger movements, the second position was at Juanda Airport in Surabaya of 206,833 passenger movements, and the third position was at Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman (SAMS) Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan of 114,306 passenger movements. Meanwhile, total air traffic at 15 PT Angkasa Pura I’s airports from January to August 2021 was 16,450,928 passenger movements, 204,589 aircraft movements, and 266,363,122 kg of cargo.
Although most cities and regencies in Java and Bali can lower their PPKM level from 4 to 3 since early September, it has not been able to significantly increase traffic. Based on passenger traffic data for the period of September 1-14, 2021, PT Angkasa Pura I served 747,582 passengers or an average of 53,398 passengers per day at 15 managed airports. Despite the increasing traffic trend due to the lowering of PPKM levels in several areas, the increase has not been significant compared to the period prior to the implementation of PPKM, where the average traffic reached 119,845 passengers per day.
Since the implementation of PPKM starting from July 3 to September 14, 2021, Angkasa Pura Airports has served 2,619,270 passenger movements or an average of 35,395 passengers per day. The figure was lower than the traffic prior to the implementation of PPKM on May 18 - July 2, 2021, where we have served 7,909,772 passengers or an average of 119,845 passengers per day at 15 managed airports.
Support PPKM Level 2 to 4 Extension Implementation in Java and Bali
Based on the Minister of Home Affairs Instruction No. 42/2021 on the Implementation of Restrictions on Public Activities (PPKM) Level 4, Level 3, Level 2 Corona Virus Disease 2019 in the islands of Java and Bali, according to the requirements for domestic flights between airports in the islands of Java and Bali, prospective passengers must show vaccination card (minimum first dose vaccination). Prospective passengers with first dose vaccination must show a certificate of negative RT-PCR test results whose samples were taken within a maximum of 2x24 hours prior to departure. Meanwhile, prospective passengers with second dose vaccination must show a certificate of negative rapid antigen test result whose samples were taken within a maximum of 1x24 hours prior to departure. This provision applies to air travel between airports in the PPKM Level 4, Level 3, and Level 2 areas in the islands of Java and Bali.
Meanwhile, for domestic flights from airports outside Java-Bali to airports in Java-Bali and vice versa, prospective passengers must show a vaccination card (minimum first dose vaccination). In addition, prospective passengers must show a certificate of negative RT-PCR test results whose samples were taken within a maximum of 2x24 hours prior to departure.
“We urge people with urgent need to travel by air during PPKM Level 2-4 extension to download PeduliLindung application as a domestic travel requirement for checking flight requirements documents, and arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure for the sake of convenience and smoothness of the departure process as well as to avoid piling up during inspection of travel requirements documents,” said Faik Fahmi.
Meanwhile, regarding the policy to limit international entry through air transportation to prevent the spread of new Covid-19 variants, including the Mu variant (B.1.621) as stated the Ministry of Transportation Circular No. 74/2021 on the Guidelines for the Implementation of People Traveling from Overseas by Air Transportation, where international entry via air transportation is limited to only two airports, Soekarno Hatta Airport in Jakarta and Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado, Angkasa Pura Airports continues to tighten supervision and coordinate with all stakeholders, including the Covid-19 Task Force at regional level and the Port Health Office (KKP) as the frontline in passenger inspection, especially at Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado as the gateway for flights from overseas to anticipate the entry of a new variant of Covid-19.
Anticipation and tightening measures refer to the applicable regulations, especially those related to International Travel Actors (PPLN). Angkasa Pura Airports has always been consistent in the implementation of strict health protocols at the airports.
