West Java Provincial Government Allocates IDR 72 Billion to Support the Operationalization of Kertajati Airport

"We have allocated IDR 52 billion (for Kertajati Airport). This also lasts approximately four months. "There are also supporting activities, IDR 20 billion in 2024. This is a stimulus for airport traffic to increase," said Head of the West Java Regional Revenue Agency Dedi Taufik.

Dedi conveyed this in an online discussion with the theme "Survival Scenario of BIJB-Kertajati, Any Options?" on Thursday (28/3/2024) afternoon. The event, which was organized by the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering (FTSL) at the Bandung Institute of Technology, featured several speakers.

Also speaking in the discussion were Secretary General of the Indonesian Airport Experts Association Salahudin Rafi, Transportation Engineering graduate student ITB Christina Natalia, and FTSL ITB Professor Harun Al Rasyid.

In the discussion, Dedi admitted that Kertajati Airport is not yet optimal. According to him, the occupancy rate of the commercially operated airport in 2018 was not significant.

Also read: Route Change to Kertajati Airport Ready, "Traffic" Becomes Homework

From October 2023 to March 2024, the number of passengers at Kertajati Airport was 199,967. "The passenger capacity per month is 446,000 people. However, it has only reached 8.73 percent," said Dedi.

Currently, there are six regular transfer routes from Husein Sastranegara International Airport, Bandung, to Kertajati Airport. The routes are Balikpapan, Batam, Denpasar, Makassar, Medan, and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). Some routes, such as Makassar, are no longer served by direct flights.

Also read: Various Steps Executed to Popularize the Charm of Kertajati

As a result, the 1,800-hectare airport has difficulty making a profit. "Our short-term debt has matured and long-term debt has been restructured twice. The minimum condition for Kertajati Airport is to remain operational," said Dedi without mentioning the amount of his debt.

That is why, as the majority shareholder, the West Java Provincial Government allocated IDR 72 billion for Kertajati Airport this year. The government also plans to develop an aerocity area of ​​3,480 hectares around the airport. However, the government has only released 300 hectares.

Christina Natalia stated that the West Java Provincial Government often injects funds from the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) for Kertajati Airport, which has not reached its maximum operational capacity. "Kertajati Airport continues to receive capital injections from the West Java APBD for its operationalization. In 2022, the funding injection is almost Rp 2 trillion," she said.

According to him, there are several opportunities to make Kertajati Airport no longer suffer losses. One of them is for the government to provide subsidies on ticket prices so that passengers choose to depart from Kertajati Airport. Collaboration between the airport and tourism industry stakeholders is also necessary.

Salahudin Rafi stated that the operation of Kertajati Airport has been supported by the transfer of flight routes from Husein Airport and the operation of the Cileunyi-Sumedang-Dawuan Toll Road. However, Kertajati Airport has not yet been supported by train services.

Also read: A Million Stories from Kertajati Airport

Despite this, Rafi is optimistic that the Kertajati Airport can still develop. Moreover, the potential number of passengers at Kertajati from the surrounding areas can reach 5 million per year. With only 1.5 million passengers per year, according to him, Kertajati will be able to make a profit.

On the other hand, Kertajati Airport also has the potential to serve cargo flights. "Around 68 percent of cargo from West Java departs through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Banten). This is an opportunity for Kertajati," said the former CEO of PT West Java International Airport.

The monthly passenger capacity is 446,000 people. However, only 8.73 percent has been achieved.