"We are preparing 37 airports to operate 24 hours," InJourney President Director Maya Watono stated in Jakarta on Friday.
The 24-hour operation will last for 18 days, starting on December 19 to January 5, 2025.
Watono remarked that departures are forecast to peak on December 20, 2024, with the peak of return flow expected on January 4, 2025.
The number of InJourney Airports' passenger traffic during the Christmas-New Year holidays is projected to increase by 4.52 percent compared to last year.
International passenger traffic in 2024 is predicted to reach 2.2 million, an increase of 23.2 percent from the previous year, while domestic passengers in 2024 will reach six million.
Watono remarked that the number of aircraft movements during the upcoming holiday period is projected to decrease by 2.84 percent compared to last year.
However, international aircraft movements in 2024 will reach 12,965, an increase of 15.4 percent from 11,227 in the previous year.
Earlier, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir ensured the decision to reduce airline fares based on President Prabowo Subianto's instructions had been realized, especially at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten.
However, his side will continue to evaluate for improvements. He also highlighted the importance of changing people's mindsets when planning trips.
He highlighted that travelers' tendency to purchase tickets at the eleventh hour is primarily responsible for the frequently criticized ticket price escalations.
Furthermore, with Indonesia's population reaching 280 million, Thohir said airport capacity will not be sufficient without systematic planning.
Hence, the government is preparing a five-year roadmap to anticipate the surge in passengers during holidays, such as Christmas, New Year, and Eid.
Such a step is expected to improve services and reduce ticket prices, ensuring public comfort during the holiday period while encouraging economic growth and tourism in Indonesia.
Thohir then reminded the public to start planning their trips in advance, as is commonly done in other countries.
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Translator: Aji Cakti, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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