Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is one of only two in Indonesia operating 24 hours day. The other is Ngurah Rai in Bali. (Bloomberg Photo/Dimas Ardian)
The country’s 27 international airports should operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to boost the airline industry ahead of the full implementation of the Asean “open sky” policy in 2015, an airline association official said over the weekend.
Tengku Burhanuddin, secretary general of the Indonesia National Air Carriers Association, said the country’s biggest hubs must be prepared to operate 24 hours a day. “That way we can make the most of our local airlines,” he said.
The Asean open sky agreement took effect in December 2008 and is being implemented gradually until 2015. It will allow airlines from all 10 Asean member countries to fly to any destination within the region.
Currently, Tengku said, Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport were the only ones that operated 24 hours a day. “It’s such a shame because several other airports also have a market if they open for 24 hours,” he said.
Those airports, he said, included Medan’s Polonia, Makassar’s Sultan Hasanuddin, and Surabaya’s Juanda airports. These, along with Jakarta and Bali, made up the country’s main air transport hubs, according to the Transportation Ministry.
Herry Bhakti Singayuda, director general of civil aviation at the ministry, said there was an existing plan to maximize the operation of the country’s major airports. The ministry, he said, was evaluating the five airports in an effort to improve their performance as major hubs.
“Several sea ports are open 24 hours,” Herry said. “Gradually, the ministry will also test-run these airports.”
Dudi Sudibyo, a Jakarta-based aviation expert, said human resources needed to be improved before the government could operate airports 24 hours a day.
“The most important thing is service. So the question is whether we have competent people to work at night and can still give customers the best service or not,” Dudi said.
He added that if Indonesia wanted to prepare for the open-sky policy, the airport workers must improve their English.
“It's a small factor that often gets overlooked,” he said, adding that workers proficient in English were required because most international flights arrive and depart at night.
Eko Roesni, secretary general of aviation watchdog People for Indonesia Air Transportation, said airport facilities also must be improved. “How can airports operate 24 hours a day if blackouts still happen?” he said.
Tulus Pranowo, operational and technical director of state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II, noted that the private sector was permitted to be involved in the operation of an airport, in accordance with the 2009 aviation law.
“We welcome any private sector organization that wants to be involved in improving our airports,” he said.
In December, Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi asked his Asean counterparts for a delay of at least six months before the country began full participation in the open-sky policy because the domestic industry was not ready.
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