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Govt allocates Rp 500 billion in subsidies for pioneer flights to remote areas
The Transportation Ministry will continue to provide subsidies to airlines that operate “pioneer” flights to and from rural areas as part of a government program on improving the connectedness of isolated areas.
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A Cessna Caravan aircraft operated by PT Spirit Avia Sentosa (Flying SAS) sits on an apron, ready to travel to Papua. (Tribunnews.com/File)
T
he Transportation Ministry will continue to provide subsidies to airlines that operate “pioneer” flights to and from rural areas as part of a government program on improving the connectivity of isolated areas.
In 2020, the ministry will allocate Rp 500 billion (US$ 35.94 million) to subsidize pioneer flights serving passengers and cargo services in remote areas in Sulawesi, Maluku and Madura. The pioneer flights, known locally as penerbangan perintis, refer to economically unviable flights between cities and frontier areas.
“It is part of the government’s commitment to improving the connectivity of remote and border areas. Hopefully, this program can provide transportation that allows access to rural areas, especially frontier areas that can only be reached by air,” Civil Aviation Directorate General director Polana B. Pramesti said in Jakarta on Jan. 9.
The subsidies, which have been provided since 2017, are given to airline operators that launch pioneer flights on designated routes. Polana said the subsidy program had cut the price of staple food by 40 percent in remote areas, especially in Papua.
This year, 188 routes in 20 regions will receive a subsidy for passenger transportation and 27 routes in five regions will receive a subsidy for cargo transportation.
The regions include Nabire, Timika, Wamena, Dekai, Manokwari, Sorong, Merauke, Tanah Merah, Gunung Sitoli, Dabo Singkep, Langgur, Kuala Pembuang, Sumenep, Tarakan, Samarinda, Ternate and Masamdba.
The airline operators that will launch pioneer flights include Susi Air, Smart Cakrawala Aviation Company (Smart Aviation), Trigana Air, Dimonim Air and Asian One Air.
