Development of Kertajati Airport's facilities need to be continued: Aviation Expert

Kertajati International Airport toll gate in Majalengka District, West Java. ANTARA/HO-Humas ASTRA Cipali

Apart from ease of access, other factors may also play a role in increasing the airport's appeal for passengers.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Aviation expert Alvin Lie opined that the development of facilities surrounding Kertajati International Airport in Majalengka District, West Java, must continue after the access toll road to the airport became operational since Dec 20, 2021.

"Apart from ease of access, other factors may also play a role in increasing the airport's appeal for passengers. For instance, passengers will consider where to stay if they are boarding red-eye flights, where to shop, and how is the airport's transit. All those factors will play a crucial role in the airport's appeal," Lie told ANTARA in Jakarta on Saturday.

Although the new access toll road becoming operational on Monday will increase passenger ridership at the airport, the expert is uncertain that this alone will attract more airlines and passengers to the airport.

"As long passenger numbers at the airport are uncertain, airlines will be hesitant to serve flights from the airport, as they do not want to operate flights in loss," Lie emphasized.

Meanwhile, Indonesia Transportation Society's Advocacy and Social Department Head Djoko Setijowarno expressed hope that the government would complete the Cileunyi-Sumedang-Dawuan toll road, abbreviated as Cisumdawu, by mid-2022.

The department head is confident that the toll road would provide better access for residents from Bandung and the northern West Java region, as it will be connected with the access toll road to Kertajati Airport.

West Java residents will also prefer flights from Kertajati Airport rather than Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten, if the toll road is completed, he added.

"The current issue is that Bandung residents could only access the airport from the Subang toll road that is at a considerable distance from the city, and they may instead decide to book a flight from the Soekarno-Hatta airport. Hence, the completion of the Cisumdawu toll road must be expedited," Setijowarno remarked.

Earlier, the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry took a decision on the access toll road to Kertajati International Airport becoming operational on December 20, 2021, and to be opened for the public.