After officials retire, scalpers return to airport

TANGERANG: Ticket scalpers have returned to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, after two officials who cracked down on unauthorized solicitations at the airport retired.

Scalpers have again become a frequent sight, stopping visitors heading to ticket counters at terminals I and II.

“They even offer airplane tickets at a higher price to me,” Budiman, a passenger waiting for a flight to Sumatra, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

“Their presence caused us discomfort.”

Beggars, pedlars, scavengers, shoe-shiners, unauthorized money changers, porters and taxi drivers had also reportedly resumed business at the airport.

An employee of airport operator Angkasa Pura II who declined to be named said the unauthorized service providers returned after two officials who were known to be consistent in upholding regulations on safety and order at the terminals retired.

Angkasa Pura II corporate secretary Harry Cahyono said that the company had raided the ticket scalpers every day and handed them over to the police.

“They are always the same persons. The police can only detain them for four hours due to lack of evidence.”

The company recorded that the number of ticket scalpers it has netted in regular raids increased from 26 in February and March to 36 in April.

In May, the number reached 82.