"It is possible that there will be a spike in passenger movement on Sunday night since MotoGP spectators start to leave Lombok. We have coordinated with stakeholders and operators to anticipate it," Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said in a press statement received on Sunday.
After visiting the Lombok International Airport, Sumadi said he had coordinated with aviation stakeholders, both airport managers and airlines, to prepare go show tickets or tickets purchased on the departure day.
"We have prepared large-bodied Boeing 777 aircraft from Garuda Indonesia but it is not enough. Therefore, we also prepared go show tickets for the Lombok-Bali route. MotoGP spectators who want to visit Bali can buy the go show tickets," he said.
Sumadi informed that from March 18 to Sunday, there had been an increase in the number of inbound passengers in Mandalika.
"Until today, the transportation connectivity service is running smoothly," he remarked.
Data from the Directorate General of Air Transportation of the Transportation Ministry said that to anticipate the spike in passengers going to and from Mandalika, there have been 59 additional flights provided. They consist of 38 extra flights, 14 charter flights, and 7 positioning flights, with a total of 9,392 seats.
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In total, the Ministry of Transportation has made three efforts, namely preparing extra flights, charter flights, and positioning flights, with a total of 168 flights with a total capacity of 29,300 seats.
Of the total 168 flights, 135 flights are extra flights with a capacity of more than 25,000 seats, with routes from Jakarta – Lombok around 19,000 seats, Denpasar (Bali)-Lombok 2,718 seats, and Surabaya-Lombok 3,834 seats.
Meanwhile, there are 22 charter flights with a capacity of around 3,500 seats, with details namely from Jakarta-Lombok with12 flights and 2,023 seats, Denpasar (Bali)-Lombok with eight flights and 1,116 seats, and Surabaya-Lombok with two flights and 360 seats.
For positioning flights, 11 aircraft are prepared to be on standby for three days during the MotoGP, with details from Jakarta-Lombok with six flights, Denpasar-Lombok with three flights, and Surabaya-Lombok with two flights.
In addition to air transportation, the Ministry has also prepared sea transportation facilities, both via passenger ships and roll on-roll off ships to a number of areas such as Bali, Surabaya, and surrounding areas.
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Translator: Adimas R F P, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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