AirAsia Airlines Made First Landing and Carried 171 Passengers
Kulon Progo, April 30, 2022 - Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) opened international flight services marked by the landing of AirAsia flight number AK 348 with a route from Kuala Lumpur (KUL). The flight was the first regular international flight to serve since YIA was fully operational during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia in 2020.
AirAsia flight AK 348 landed at YIA today (29/04), at 17.30 WIB with 171 passengers, 59 of whom were foreign citizens (WNA) and the rest were Indonesian citizens (WNI). AirAsia AK 348 was greeted with a water salute ceremonial procession from YIA fire fighting vehicles. After being designated as an entry point based on the Ministry of Transportation Circular No. SE 42 of 2022 on Overseas Travel Instructions by Air Transportation during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Pandemic, YIA is the fifth airport under the management of Angkasa Pura Airports to resume international flights.
“Angkasa Pura Airports as the operator of Yogyakarta International Airport welcomes the operation of the international route flight from AirAsia connecting Yogyakarta to Kuala Lumpur. We are committed to continuing to ensure that all flight operations and services to all service users run smoothly and meet applicable security, safety and service standards. We are optimistic that the opening of this route will slowly increase international route flight traffic at YIA and bring a multiplier effect for economic recovery and the tourism industry in Yogyakarta,” President Director of Angkasa Pura Airports, Faik Fahmi said.
AirAsia KUL-YIA-KUL flights will temporarily operate with a frequency of 2 times a week, on Fridays and Sundays. AirAsia uses an Airbus A320 Neo with a capacity of 186 passengers. Thus, today’s inaugural flight reached a capacity of 92% of passengers (load factor).
AirAsia CEO Veranita Yosephine said, “We see this positive potential as an effort to recover the aviation, tourism and economic sectors during the pandemic. We will continue to collaborate with PT Angkasa Pura I to maximize the opportunities.”
In addition to the water salute, AP I management together with the airport community, as well as the local government also gave an appreciation for welcoming passengers by draping flowers to arriving passengers at YIA. In addition, all passengers were also greeted with Yogyakarta traditional dance.
"On behalf of the DIY government, we thank you, this is a very good opportunity, with the reopening of international flights through YIA, we have the hope that this can open up accessibility for tourists who will visit Yogyakarta, and of course it will open up opportunities as well as business and investment in Yogyakarta. Hopefully, other international flight routes will soon follow,” explained the Head of the DIY Tourism Office, Singgih Raharjo, S.H., M.Ed.
Guidelines for the Implementation of Overseas Travel (PPLN) were simplified, including:
- International travelers (PPLN) are required to download PeduliLindungi App and complete their user profile in the app.
- PPLN do not need to fill in e-HAC;
- PPLN must show a vaccine card/certificate;
- PPLN who have not been able to get vaccinated or have received the first dose of vaccine at least 14 (fourteen) days before departure, are required to quarantine for 5 x 24 hours and are required to carry out a second RT-PCR test on the 4th day of quarantine;
- PPLN must show negative results through the RT-PCR test in the country of origin whose samples are taken within a maximum period of 2 x 24 hours before departure and are attached at the time of the health check;
- Symptomatic passengers (with a temperature above 37.5 degrees) shall undergo RT-PCR test;
- PPLN who have received the second or third dose of vaccine at least 14 days before departure and the negative RT-PCR test result upon arrival, are allowed to continue the journey.
“The arrival of international flights at YIA today went smoothly. All the passengers took part in the inspection stages prepared by the KKP, the Immigration Office, and Customs and Excise. Overall, there were no problems and the international flights ran smoothly,” General Manager of Yogyakarta International Airport, Agus Pandu Purnama explained.
