Government Revokes International Status of 17 Airports

The airport's international status is not just a political achievement. Regional governments need to prove they are worthy of this status.

KOMPAS/DEFRI WERDIONO

The screenshot of a Citilink airplane flying from Jakarta to Kediri was landing for the first time at Dhoho International Airport in Kediri regency, East Java, on Friday (5/4/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The government has revoked the international status of 17 airports from 34 international airports in order to encourage the recovery of the national aviation sector. Even though they have international status, some of them only serve flights to nearby countries. Indonesian airports only act as feeders to other countries.

The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has just downsized international airports, from 34 to 17 airports. The aim is to encourage the national aviation sector which had slumped during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is stated in Ministerial Decree (KM) Number 31/2024 concerning the Designation of International Airports on April 2 2024.

This decision was welcomed positively by the Chairman of the Indonesian Airline Service Users Association (Apjapi), Alvin Lie. Based on the data he collected, of the 34 international airports operating in Indonesia, only 15-17 active airports have schedules. The rest only have "international" status without flight operations.

"So, it's only an international airport in status, but there are no flights. Then, out of the 15-17 active airports, only a few serve flights to certain countries," said Alvin when contacted from Jakarta on Saturday (April 27, 2024).

In its assessment, airports serving various international routes have so far been limited to several airports. These airports are Soekarno-Hatta Airport (Banten), I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport (Bali), Kualanamu Airport (North Sumatra), and Sam Ratulangi Airport (North Sulawesi).

Apart from those four airports, Alvin continued, they only serve international flights to Singapore and Malaysia. This condition is considered not ideal for Indonesia, both politically and economically.

"Our airports are only feeders for airports in Singapore and Malaysia. "This is reinforced by immigration data which shows, of the total passengers, 60-90 percent have Indonesian passports," said Alvin.

International airports ultimately only facilitate Indonesian travelers going abroad. However, they do not bring foreign citizens to Indonesia.

"The local government has been complacent, feeling that the international airport already exists and therefore not promoting their region to other countries to attract international travelers," said Alvin.

Taking a cue from the international airport management practices around the world, several countries also adjust the number of airports to match their status. For example, India, with a population of 1.42 billion, only has 35 international airports, while the United States, with a population of 399.9 million, manages 18 international airports.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Adita Irawati, Special Staff of the Ministry of Transportation for Human Resources and Public Relations and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation, Adita Irawati, said that KM No. 31/2024 aims to protect international flights after the pandemic. The way to do this is by making the airport a hub or international feeder in your own country.

"So far, most international airports only serve international flights to certain countries, not long-haul flights. "So, international hubs are actually enjoyed by other countries," said Adita.

Aligned with Alvin's assessment, Adita stated that several international airports only serve short flights to and from one or two countries. Other international airports only serve international flights, and some even have no inter-country services at all. This situation results in ineffective and inefficient airport operations in their utilization.

Although 17 international airports have been designated, airports with domestic status can still serve international flights for certain temporary purposes. The operation can be carried out after the Minister of Transportation determines it in accordance with Regulation PM 40 of 2023 concerning Changes to Regulation PM 39 of 2019 regarding the National Airport System. These activities include national security, international activities, embarkation and disembarkation of hajj pilgrims, supporting national economic growth, and disaster management.

"The management of airports in general, including international airports, will continue to be evaluated continuously. Therefore, the arrangement and operation of airports will also be adjusted to the developing situation and conditions," said Adita.

Political achievements

The return of domestic status to several airports does not mean that these airports cannot regain their "international" status. It takes the commitment and real work of local governments to fight for that international status once again.

Alvin stated that this regulation is a simplification process so that international flight routes can be concentrated more optimally. Indonesian airports are also not only feeders for neighboring countries. The hope is that the effectiveness of air travel can also support Indonesian airlines.

The domestic airport status also does not change many of the existing facilities. Safety standards and navigation facilities are the same. Only immigration, customs, and quarantine areas differentiate between these two types of airports.

"Don't just use the word 'international' for political achievements," said Alvin.

Local governments are expected to innovate in order to maintain or even restore international status if necessary. This is because airport status is also calculated based on the number of international travelers coming from abroad to Indonesia.