In a press conference on Thursday, Thohir noted that while air travel is anticipated to peak during the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year holidays, this surge is expected to taper off by January 4. This allows for a timely shift in focus towards Eid holiday preparations.
"Preparation for the Eid holiday should commence in March 2025, and we should begin our anticipatory measures," he remarked.
He then emphasized the importance of assessing each airline's aircraft availability to manage the anticipated passenger surge effectively.
According to the minister, passenger numbers during the Eid holiday can be fivefold higher than those witnessed during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Hence, careful and effective planning for the homecoming and return flow is essential.
Thohir expressed hope that all related parties would develop a clear roadmap within the coming months to facilitate air travel during Eid 2025.
"(This should be) followed by (collaboration with) stakeholders at the airport, AirNav, immigration, customs, airport trains, and others. In the next few months, all roadmaps must be ready," he stressed.
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The minister highlighted that synergy between all airport entities could increase comfort, security, and efficiency during the Eid holiday.
On Thursday, Thohir convened with state-run aviation companies to discuss flight safety in Indonesia and preparations for transportation during the 2025 Eid holiday.
Representatives from Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Pelita Air, InJourney Airports, and AirNav Indonesia, an air traffic management company, attended the meeting.
Earlier, the Ministry of Transportation recorded that 110.6 million people were projected to travel during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Based on that data, the number of air transportation passengers is estimated to reach 8.2 million.
To support the year-end holidays, the government has implemented the policy of reducing airline ticket prices by 10 percent from December 19, 2024, to January 3, 2025.
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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