Route Transfers Believed to Spur Development

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Starting July 1, domestic flights will be transferred from Bandung to Kertajati. It is believed that this will trigger the construction of supporting facilities, such as hotels and commercial areas, around the airport.

MAJALENGKA, KOMPAS — The transfer of flights to 13 cities from Husein Sastranegara International Airport, Bandung, to West Java Kertajati International Airport in Majalengka regency will take place on July 1. It is believed that this will accelerate the development of supporting facilities around the airport.

"So far, investors are still waiting for Kertajati to become crowded. With the transfer of routes, we believe that supporting facilities, such as hotels and commercial areas, will be built around the airport," PT Bandara Internasional Jawa Barat (BIJB) airport division performance head Ari Widodo said in Majalengka, Monday (24/6/2019).

According to Ari, since the Transportation Ministry decided to move the flights to 13 cities from Husein Sastranegara airport to Kertajati, airport activities have begun to flourish. Nine culinary outlet tenants and souvenir stores are ready to operate. Hotel promo ads are also on display at the airport terminal. Six offices were prepared for airlines.

While visiting Kertajati on Tuesday (18/6), Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi confirmed the transfer of domestic jet flights from Husein Sastranegara airport to Kertajati. The transfers were made to increase the number of international flights to Bandung. Husein Sastranegara airport still serves the propeller flight (Kompas, 19/6/2019).

Angkasa Pura (AP) II vice president of corporate communications Yado Yarismano, when contacted in Jakarta, said five airlines had applied for flights to 13 cities, putting the total number of flights at 56. "A total of 44 flights have been accepted," he said.

The five airlines that will operate in Kertajati are Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, Citilink, AirAsia and Xpress Air. The route to Denpasar will include four flights per day and Kualanamu (Medan), Pekanbaru, Palembang and Surabaya each will have two flights.

The eight other routes are to Makassar, Lombok, Padang, Banjarmasin, Pontianak, Bandung, Balikpapan and Yogyakarta. "About 1 to 2 million passengers will fly in Kertajati this year. This number will still grow. We are optimistic," he said.

Kertajati Airport has a runway of 3,000 meters so it can serve large-bodied aircraft, such as the

Boeing 777. The airport apron can accommodate 20 aircraft, including four large-bodied aircraft.

PT AP II Husein Sastranegara International Airport general manager Andika Nuryaman said his side was continuing to disseminate information on the transfer of routes to prospective passengers. "The airlines that have confirmed the transfer of routes are Lion Air and AirAsia. Other airlines will gradually follow," said Andika.

There are six routes that still serve Husein Sastranegara Airport, consisting of 20 flights, namely flights to Lampung, Malang, Solo, Semarang, Tanjung Karang and Halim Perdanakusuma Jakarta. These routes are served by Wings Air, Cililink and NAM Air using propeller aircraft.

West Java Tourism Travel Companies Association (Asita) chairman Budijanto Ardiansjah said he supported the transfer of routes from Bandung to Kertajati. "However, prospective passengers cannot be forced. We don\'t want to see them fly via Halim Perdanakusuma airport or Soekarno-Hatta International Airport instead of via Kertajati," he said.

Long trips

The trip from Bandung to Kertajati takes two hours 45 minutes via toll road and about three hours via non-toll road. Going to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport takes about three hours. The Cisumdawu toll road, which can cut the time to 45 minutes, is targeted to begin operations in 2020.

The supporting facilities at Kertajati are not yet adequate. The closest three-star hotel is about 30 kilometers away. “Cirebon and its surrounding areas must upgrade facilities," he said.

Land transportation to Kertajati is being prepared. Bandung’s Perum Damri general manager Mursalin said the state-owned company would operate 20 buses to serve passengers in Kertajati airport.

Buses depart from and go to Bandung, Cikarang, Cirebon and Kuningan. "There are five buses per route with a capacity of 40 people per bus. Departure is scheduled every two hours," he said.

Mursalin said his side received subsidies from the management of Kertajati airport for the Bandung-Kertajati route service. Because of that, the service will be free for a month. (SEM/IKI/TAM)

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