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AP-2 promises incentive for airlines that RON outside Soekarno-Hatta airport
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A Garuda Indonesia airplane parks at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten on June 25, 2016. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
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irector of Angkasa Pura 2 Muhammad Awaluddin uses a unique trick to encourage airlines to remain overnight (RON) outside the Soekarno-Hatta Airport. These airlines are promised incentives to RON at 12 other airports under Angkasa Pura 2 management but outside Cengkareng.
The regulation is enforced to reduce density in the airport’s parking space. “Currently there are 149 airplanes that RON every night at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. This results in a parking space that is densely packed and authorities are facing problems in managing airplanes landing on the aprons,” Awaluddin explained.
According to Awaluddin, there will be cash-based and non-cash-based incentives. Airlines will not be required to pay parking fees and landing fees in airports outside Soetta (Soekarno-Hatta). “Parking the plane in Soetta means paying a fee. If airlines RON in airports other than Soetta but still under the AP-2 management, they don’t have to pay the RON fee,” he said.
Non-cash incentives, according to Awaluddin, include advertising that is free of charge in indoor and outdoor media spots that belong to AP-2. A number of spots will be given for free to airlines intending to promote their new routes.
“We encourage airlines to move their airplanes by remaining overnight in AP-2 airports outside Soetta that have lighter traffic,” he said. “[By creating new routes] airlines will be challenged to attract passengers, and we will help with their promotions by providing media spots at the airports.”
(Read also: Soekarno-Hatta declared World’s Most Improved Airport)
He admitted that the move would reduce the Soetta airport’s income due to a decrease in parked airplanes and landings there, while the new airports would allow for free landing and parking. Tourism Minister Arief Yahya has his own marketing paradox theory, which says that the more freebies given, the more income there will be.
“We will make [RON] free of charge, and this will provide more opportunities [for airlines]. More passengers will be able to access more airports. The aviation ecosystem will be alive and we can capitalize from the new passengers distributed via these AP-2 airports,” Arief Yahya said.
He analogized the situation to the Google search engine, which provides a free service to the customers – but what does it get in return? “Customer data. Google has people’s data; who they are, what they like, when and how they use the search engine,” the minister said.
Arief Yahya also applauded Muhammad Awaluddin for encouraging airlines to move more as more movement would impact goods and services, which would create new opportunities.
“To encourage airlines to RON in other areas of Indonesia means the airlines will carry out promotions to transport more passengers from new areas to other areas. Domestic tourism will be alive; there will be more visitors to tourist destinations, which will result in a more developed tourism industry,” the minister elaborated. (asw)
The following are airports under the management of PT Angkasa Pura 2 (AP-2) in West Indonesia.
(Read also: Soekarno-Hatta airport train to start operating in July)
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
Halim Perdanakusuma Airport
Husein Sastranegara Airport
Kuala Namu International Airport, replacing Polonia International Airport
Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport
Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport
Minangkabau Airport
Supadio Airport
Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport
Sultan Thaha Airport
Radin Inten II Airport
Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport
Silangit Airport
