Avtur prices at Kertajati Airport are expensive, flights are not yet optimal

The price of aviation fuel at Kertajati Airport, Majalengka, is more expensive than surrounding airports. This airport is not optimal.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

The atmosphere of the discussion during the West Java Economic Society (WJES) Seminar at the Bank Indonesia Representative Office in Cirebon, West Java on Tuesday (30/4/2024). The discussion covers the development of the Rebana area, including the Kertajati International Airport in West Java.

CIREBON, KOMPAS - The price of aviation turbine fuel (avtur) at the West Java International Airport Kertajati, Majalengka Regency, is more expensive compared to airports around it. As a result, flights at the second largest airport in Indonesia have not been optimal. The airport management hopes that the price of avtur can soon be lowered.

Vice President of Commercial and Technical PT Bandara Internasional Jabar—manager of Kertajati Airport—Ari Widodo said that the price of aviation fuel in Kertajati is currently IDR 14,880 per liter. This figure is more expensive than the price of aviation fuel at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, namely IDR 13,767 per liter.

Avtur prices are influenced by international conditions. However, the price also depends on the level of demand.

"Currently, the (price of) aviation fuel at Kertajati (Airport) is IDR 1,113 (per liter). "This means that Kertajati's aviation fuel is Rp. 1,113 per liter more expensive (compared to Soekarno-Hatta Airport)," said Ari in the West Java Economic Society (WJES) Workshop in Cirebon City, Tuesday ( 4/30/2024).

Also read: Kertajati Airport will open new routes, from Surabaya to Singapore

The activity was initiated by the Representative Office of Bank Indonesia (KPw BI) in Cirebon, in collaboration with the Indonesian Economists Association (ISEI). The meeting, which was attended by local government officials, academics, and businessmen, discussed the optimization of Kertajati Airport.

Speaking at the event were Muhammad Nur, Head of the Bank Indonesia Representative in West Java, Anton Pitono, Head of the Bank Indonesia Representative in Cirebon, and Prof. Martha Fani, Coordinator of the West Java Branch of the Indonesian Economists Association. Also present were Ismayasari, Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Cirebon, and Ibnu Syabri, a researcher in planning from the Bandung Institute of Technology.

According to Ari, the price of avtur in Kertajati has decreased compared to three years ago. At that time, the price of aviation fuel at Kertajati was Rp 2,200 more expensive per liter than at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Even though it has lowered, the price of fuel in Kertajati is still relatively expensive compared to surrounding airports.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Garuda Indonesia aircraft with flight number GA902 is preparing to depart from West Java International Airport (BIJB) Kertajati, Majalengka Regency, heading to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday (8/6/2023).

The high price of aviation fuel in Kertajati has an impact on international flights not being optimal. "The reality on the ground is that international planes do not want to carry cargo from Kertajati because they tend to carry cheap fuel (avtur) from Malaysia," said Ari.

The relatively high price of avtur (aviation turbine fuel) in Kertajati, furthermore, also triggers airlines to choose to operate at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport or Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport. As a result, there are more route options and flight schedules, and ticket prices are cheaper.

In the online ticket sales application, there are up to 27 flight schedules from Soekarno-Hatta Airport to Kualanamu Airport, Medan. The prices start from IDR 1.2 million per person. As for the schedule from Kertajati to Medan, there is only one flight with a price of IDR 1.5 million per person.

(The price of) aviation fuel is so complicated to lower. However, we hope that the aviation fuel can be the same as Cengkareng.

Currently, Kertajati Airport serves direct flights to Medan, Balikpapan, Denpasar, and Malaysia. The operating airlines are Super Air Jet, Citilink, AirAsia, and Malaysia Airlines. Every day, there are 12-14 aircraft movements in the 1,800 hectare airport.

The second largest airport in Indonesia after Soekarno-Hatta Airport accommodates 1,700 to 1,800 passengers per day. However, the airport, which has been operating since 2018, can actually serve more than 10,000 passengers a day.

Therefore, they hope that the government and PT Pertamina (Persero) can lower the price of avtur. "Lowering the price of avtur is a complicated matter. However, we hope that the price of avtur can be the same as in Cengkareng (Soekarno-Hatta Airport)," said Ari.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Several airplanes are parked at the apron of the West Java International Airport Kertajati in Majalengka Regency, on Sunday (October 29th, 2023). After a period of being quiet, Kertajati Airport is now operating at full capacity.

The representative of Bank Indonesia in West Java, Muhamad Nur, stated that the results of discussions in WJES, including the issue of avtur prices, will serve as a recommendation for the government and relevant parties. "We from BI are ready to do it. Moreover, this is for the greater interest of the public," he said.

The Chairman of Kadin Kota Cirebon, Ismayasari, is urging the management of Kertajati Airport to socialize flight schedules and cargo potential at the airport. So far, businesses in the Cirebon area have not been aware of the details of the services and potential of the airport.

"In the city of Cirebon, there are approximately nine hajj and umrah business operators. Out of the nine, only one uses BIJB for umrah. The other eight use other airports. Even though the infrastructure is already good. This should be noted," he said.

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