AirAsia’s flight from Kuala Lumpur becomes first international flight in the airport
Jakarta, April 22, 2022 - Sultan Hasanuddin Airport has begus reopening regular international flights, marked by the landing of AirAsia AK330 flight from Kuala Lumpur. The flight carrying 140 passengers landed on the runway at 10.21 WITA (Central Indonesia Time, and was greeted with a ceremonial water salute procession from two fire engines belonging to Angkasa Pura Airports.
Sultan Hasanuddin Airport becomes the fourth airport managed by Angkasa Pura Airports to reopen regular international flight service, after I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado, and Juanda Airport in Surabaya.
This is in line with the Ministry of Transportation’s Circular Letter No SE 42/2022 on Guidelines for the Implementation of Foreign Travel by Air Transportation during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Pandemic.
“As of Thursday, another airport under the management of Angkasa Pura I has reopened international flight service, namely Sultan Hasanuddin Airport. We would like to extend our gratitude, considering that many of our airports serve as entry points for regular international flights. We are confident that this will increase passenger traffic and international flights at our airport," said President Director of Angkasa Pura Airports, Faik Fahmi.
Positive response were not only shown by PT Angkasa Pura I, but also a number of airport's comunities who presented traditional Toraja uniforms to the pilot, co-pilot, and cabin crew who have ensured the comfort and safety of the inaugural flight of international routes operating at the Sultan Hasanuddin Airport since the pandemic.
According to the schedule, this flight will take place two times per week every Thursday and Saturday. AirAsia airlines uses Airbus A320 type aircraft with a capacity of 180 passengers. The load factor of the inaugural flight was 78%.
General Manager of Sultan Hasanuddin Airport, Wahyudi, expressed hopes that the inaugural flight can be a good start for international flights at the airport. “Before the pandemic, AirAsia served overseas flights every day. Hopefully, and if conditions get better, Air Asia can resume operations every day," said Wahyudi.
Since being named as one of international flight entry point in early February 2022, Angkasa Pura I has recorded an increase in the number of aircraft and passenger movement traffic on international routes.
Until the first quarter of 2022, Angkasa Pura I recorded 1,382 aircraft movements, as well as 43,955 passengers on international routes. Initially, the number of aircraft movements in March 2022, which reached 695 aircraft movements, grew by 127 percent compared to February’s 306 aircraft movements. For the movement of passengers on international routes in March, Angkasa Pura I served 37,208 passengers, or a 686 percent increase compared to February where 4,731 passengers were served.
As for April, Angkasa Pura Angkasa Pura Airports has served 905 aircraft movements and 127,488 passengers on international routes..Later in the day, the aircraft with flight number AK331 departed to Kuala Lumpur at 11.25 a.m. WITA carrying 66 passengers.
