Indonesian gov’t announces 50 per cent cut on domestic airfares

A Citilink plane at Silangit International Airport in North Sumatra. (Antara Photo/Andika Wahyu). Sketched by the Pan Pacific Agency.

JAKARTA, Jul 11, 2019, Jakarta Globe. The government has announced a 50 percent cut on domestic airfares starting from Thursday, reported the Jakarta Globe.

“Lower airfares will be available on certain flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Airlines will be available to offer lower airfares for up to 30 percent of the total number of seats on each flight,” said Susiwijono, the secretary of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, in Jakarta on Monday.

The decision to cut domestic airfares was taken in a meeting between the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, the Transportation Minister and representatives from flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, the Lion Air Group and airport operators Angkasa Pura I and II on July 1.

Susiwijono said lower airfares will be available on 64 flights operated by Citilink, a subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, and 146 flights operated by LionAir, Indonesia’s biggest budget airline.

That means lower fares will be available for around 3,000 seats on Citilink flights and 8,000 seats on Lion Air flights. The Directorate General of Aviation is managing the allocation of the discounted airfares.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said the price cut answered the public’s demand for lower airfares.

“The government will always strive to provide affordable airfares for everyone,” Budi said in Jakarta on Monday.

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