KUPANG - The mudik (hometown travel) peak at El Tari Kupang Airport, Nusa Tenggara Timur, both for departure and arrival was predicted to happen on Saturday or D-2 Idul Fitri 1435 Hijriah. "We predict the peak of mudik will happen on Saturday, because Idul Fitri holiday for school and employees will start on that day."
He further explained that the number of passengers who leave from El Tari Kupang Airport since D-7 to D-4 was increasing from 2,100 to 2,500 people. In the meantime, on D-4 23.59 WIB or 24 July 2014 the number of passengers took off using domestic routes through El Tari Airport was recorded 2,236 people compared to the arrived passengers on the same day.
As reported by Antara on Friday (25/7), he said that the arrival number on D-4 compared to year 2013 has increased 2% from 2,191 people to 2,236 people. Also on arrival on D-4, compared to 2013, it has increased from 1,827 passengers to 2,136 passengers or a 17% increase.
According to him, the increase both in departure and arrival happened due to passengers’ preference to flight continues to improve from time to time. "Most travelers want to arrive faster to their destination. This triggers the number of departure and arrival using airplanes continues to grow," he said. This is also supported by the improving household income which support transportation needs in order to arrive timely and safely.
Lusi Keraf mentioned that in the last two years (2012-2013), the mudik travelers reached the average of 2,500 – 3,000 people daily, both for departure and arrival through El Tari Airport using 18-22 flights a day and predicted to increase to 28 flights a day. She also explained that flights in and out El Tari Kupang Airport on Lebaran 2013 increased 28% compared to the previous year (2012) which was only 15-18%. She also added, thus the flight frequency would be increased to 30 times per day. [Diani Sekaring Sejati/Merdeka.com]
