Crowded During Homecoming and Returning for Eid, Kertajati Airport Serves 29,910 Passengers

During the Eid homecoming and returning period, Kertajati Airport served 29,910 passengers. However, now the number is decreasing.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Passengers queue at the Departure Terminal of West Java Kertajati International Airport in Majalengka Regency, Friday (1/12/2023).

MAJALENGKA, KOMPAS — West Java Kertajati International Airport in Majalengka Regency served 29,910 passengers during the Eid 2024 homecoming and return period. The long holiday made the airport busy. However, now the number of passengers and flights is starting to decline.

The Lebaran transportation period takes place for 16 days from Wednesday to Thursday (3-18/4/2024). During this time, the airport served 29,910 passengers or an average of 1,869 people per day. The number of aircraft movements during this period reached 205 flights or 13 planes per day.

“This number has increased compared to normal days. Normally 700-1,200 passengers per day at Kertajati Airport. "Meanwhile the number of flights is 10-11 planes a day," said Executive General Manager BIJB Kertajati Nuril Huda, Friday (19/4/2024).

Also read: Various Steps Performed to Popularize the Charm of Kertajati

Even during the peak of homecoming traffic on Saturday (6/4/2024), the number of passengers reached 2,386 with six flights per day. While the peak of returning traffic at the 1,800-hectare airport occurred on Wednesday (17/4/2024) with 2,607 passengers and 16 flights.

"The occupancy of airplanes during the Eid al-Fitr transport at Kertajati Airport averages 70 percent per day. Even during peak homecoming and return, the occupancy can reach 80 percent," continued Nuril.

Around 60 percent of passengers choose the Denpasar, Bali route. The rest goes to Balikpapan and Medan.

Even on April 6 and 7, 2024, they added one flight to Kualanamu Airport in Medan, making it two planes a day. Super Air Jet, the airline, provides additional flights to serve the high demand for that route.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

The atmosphere of the Kertajati Window Exhibition at the West Java International Airport Kertajati in Majalengka Regency, Friday (1/12/2023). The one-day exhibition presented various typical products from the West Java region. The event was an effort to increase public interest in using the Kertajati Airport.

According to Nuril, the surge in passengers at Kertajati Airport during the Lebaran transportation period occurred due to a long holiday of about two weeks. Passengers not only returned to their hometowns, but also went on vacation to Bali.

"This is proven by the number of flights to Bali," he said.

However, the authorities predict a gradual decrease in the number of passengers after the post-Eid al-Fitr holiday rush. For instance, on Friday, 12 flights to and from Kertajati Airport were recorded. "Today, flights have started to return to normal," said Nuril.

The flight is a route to and from Denpasar, Kualanamu, Balikpapan, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Denpasar is the most popular destination with six flights per day. The operating airlines are AirAsia, Super Air Jet, Citilink, and Malaysia Airlines.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Executive General Manager of West Java's Kertajati International Airport, Nuril Huda, was interviewed at the airport in Majalengka Regency on Sunday, August 6, 2023.

The number of direct flights has decreased compared to when Kertajati Airport was fully operational at the end of October 2023. At that time, the Ministry of Transportation moved seven flight routes from Husein Sastranegara International Airport, Bandung, to Kertajati.

The route includes Balikpapan, Banjarmasin, Batam, Denpasar, Makassar, Medan, and Palembang. However, at present, Kertajati Airport only serves regular flights directly to Balikpapan, Denpasar, and Medan. As for international flights, they only go to Malaysia.

According to Nuril, the reduction in flight routes in Kertajati depends on airline policy by looking at the number of passengers. ”What is clear is that slots (availability for operating seven routes) are still available at the airport. "If there is a lot of demand (requests), the route will be opened again," he said.

God willing, there will be (a route to Singapore) in September (2024). Kertajati Airport is essentially ready, depending on other stakeholders. (Nuril)

In fact, his party is currently exploring cooperation with Scoot, an airline from Singapore Airlines, regarding the opening of a new route to Singapore. "God willing, it will be in September (2024). "Kertajati Airport is essentially ready, depending on other stakeholders," he said.

The agency continued to coordinate with the West Java Tourism and Culture Agency and the surrounding areas of Majalengka to attract tourists to Kertajati Airport. They also remain in communication with the transportation department to optimize ground transportation to Kertajati.

By the end of 2023, for example, the West Java Provincial Government provided 16,000 free tickets to and from Kertajati. However, the program did not continue. Head of the West Java Regional Revenue Agency, Dedi Taufik, said that as the majority shareholder, the provincial government continues to support the operation of the airport.

"We have allocated IDR 52 billion (for Kertajati Airport). This also lasts approximately four months. "There are also supporting activities, IDR 20 billion in 2024. This is a stimulus for airport traffic to increase," said Dedi in an online discussion some time ago.

The party hopes that the injection of funds can attract more passengers to the airport, which began operating in 2018. Especially since the passenger capacity at Kertajati can reach up to 446,000 people per month. However, currently only an average of 8.73 percent per month has been achieved.

Apart from providing operational funding stimulus, his party also plans to develop an aerocity area or airport city covering an area of ​​3,480 hectares around Kertajati. "Essentially, the minimum condition for Kertajati Airport is that it must continue to operate," said Dedi.

Also read: West Java Provincial Government Allocates IDR 72 Billion to Support Operationalization of Kertajati Airport