Transportation Minister Approves Opening Palembang-Bali Flight Route

Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi has approved the proposal from the Acting Governor of South Sumatra, Agus Fatoni, to open a new flight route, namely Palembang-Bali.

"So, what we ensure is to open flight routes to Bali and Batam," the Minister of Transportation said during the audience discussing the reactivation of Gatot Subroto Way Kanan Airport at the Ministry of Transportation office, Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, on Tuesday.

Currently, there is already a flight route serving the Palembang-Batam route, but it's still not very frequent.

Therefore, Minister Sumadi ensures that there will be additional new flight routes to those destinations.

Earlier, the Acting Governor of South Sumatra, Agus Fatoni, proposed the opening of new flight routes, namely Palembang-Bali, Palembang-Batam, Palembang-Singapore, and Palembang-Malaysia.

This is due to the high demand, especially during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

"We want to propose the addition of flight routes, first to Bali, Batam, Singapore, and Malaysia. Our data with the airport manager yesterday showed quite a high demand there," Fatoni expressed.

According to Fatoni, the Chinese New Year moment is a momentum to increase regional revenue. This is because, through direct flights to those routes, Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport will be crowded with tourists.

"Actually, even during Chinese New Year, our revenue is quite good because there is an emotional connection between Palembang and Chinese New Year," Fatoni stated.

In addition, through this opportunity, Fatoni also hopes for the activation of Gatot Subroto Way Kanan Airport as soon as possible.

According to him, the presence of Gatot Subroto Way Kanan Airport is very important. This is because of the significant needs of the community and the potential to boost the economic growth of the surrounding residents.

"We convey that the need is very large and the potential is also very large, and the airport is ready," Fatoni remarked.

"Therefore, we convey all this, we invite all the Regents there, there are Way Kanan Regency, East Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU), OKU, South OKU, and West Lampung, and the local government is ready to support this," he continued.

In the future, it will not only be one area that will benefit, but there will be six Districts/Cities at once.

One of the factors is the location of Gatot Subroto Way Kanan Airport, which is on the border between South Sumatra and Lampung Provinces.