According to a statement from his ministry, Sumadi made the remark at the “Expert Talk: 2015-2024 Achievements in the Air Transportation Sector” held by Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in Bandung, West Java, on Tuesday.
Sumadi deemed it important to improve connectivity, accessibility, and mobility of the community and to drive economic growth in previously hard-to-reach areas.
According to the minister, during Jokowi's presidency, Indonesia expanded its airport networks and built 27 new airports in various regions, including underdeveloped, frontier, outermost, and border (3TP) areas.
In addition to building new airports, the Ministry of Transportation has also renovated and developed 64 airports in various regions in the last decade.
The efforts comprised extending the runway, expanding the terminal building, and renovating several other facilities.
The Ministry of Transportation has also implemented another major program of organizing feed aircraft transportation to support connectivity and reduce price disparities for communities in 3TP areas.
Currently, 41 air bridge routes and 220 feeder aircraft routes are spread across Indonesia.
He explained that airport restoration and development are crucial to improving service standards and flight safety, while the provision of air bridges is important to improving accessibility in 3TP areas.
"This service also facilitates people in remote areas to fulfill their daily needs at affordable prices," he noted.
Furthermore, he stated that Jokowi's government had taken over management of the Jakarta Flight Information Region (FIR) for the airspace above Riau Islands-Natuna after being earlier managed by Singapore.
He believes that the shift in FIR would positively impact Indonesia, especially by boosting state revenue.
On that occasion, ITB's Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation, Prof Ir I Gede Wenten, stated that a sustainable concept should be implemented for the future of the air transportation sector.
"To this end, it is essential to think about the use of new technology and innovation to create air transportation that is more efficient and continues to prioritize passengers' safety," he remarked.
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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