State-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura (AP) II recorded a 2.6 percent decline in passenger movements at the 19 airports it manages during the first two weeks of September compared to the same period in August. That follows a strong rebound between June and July.

AP II president director Muhammad Awaludin said on Sept. 17 that the PSBB policy in various regions continued to affect the aviation industry despite efforts by airport operators to reassure passengers by implementing strict health protocol.

In response to the continuous rise in COVID-19 cases, which reached 240,600 on Sunday, The Jakarta administration has reimposed the PSBB in the capital in a measure that took effect on Sept. 14.

“We understand that there are effects of the PSBB policy on the aviation industry. We initially saw a strong rebound between May and August, but the growth rate started to flatten since August,” Awaluddin said during an online discussion held by the Indonesian National Air Carriers Association (INACA).

AP II data show that monthly passenger movement surged 466 percent month-to-month (mtm) in June, as the government lifted the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) travel ban that had led to a sharp drop in air passengers in May. The uptrend continued in July with 135 percent mtm growth.

However, the passenger growth rate slowed to 35.5 percent mtm in August, before contracting in the first two weeks of September.

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