Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir said that any decision to continue the airfare reduction policy will require an in-depth study to determine the policy's impact on the aviation industry and the economy.
He delivered the remarks at a press conference here on Thursday in response to questions about continuing the 10-percent airfare reduction policy, which the government announced for the 16-day period from December 19, 2024, to January 3, 2025.
He emphasized that Indonesia's aviation industry is still focusing on efficiency, considering the limited number of aircraft.
Though Indonesia needs around 750 aircraft, it currently has just 400.
"We continue efficiency in our aviation industry. Indeed, the number of aircraft that we have is insufficient," he noted after a meeting with aviation state-owned enterprises.
He said that airlines such as Garuda, Citilink, and Pelita Air are seeking to increase the number of aircraft to meet the growing need for air transportation.
This is considered an innovative step for supporting smooth flights.
Earlier, spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation, Elba Damhuri, said that the government had decided to lower the price of domestic flight tickets during the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year period at all airports.
He added that the airfare reduction policy was devised at the direction of President Prabowo Subianto and aimed to support the community by reducing the airfare burden.
On Thursday, Thohir held a meeting with several aviation SOEs, namely Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Pelita Air, and InJourney Airports, as well as air navigation services provider AirNav Indonesia.
