As many as 21 flight operators are moving their operations from Indonesia’s Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport to five other locations, following a temporary closure starting end of this month.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation and the Indonesian Air Force says Halim Airport will be temporarily closed from 26 January onwards and flights will be rerouted to other airports.
The government announced last year that plans to close Halim airport for renovation to improve flight safety, which includes runway reconstruction and repair of the drainage system.
The air force had earlier announced that the airport would close 1 January, creating some confusion among operators who argued they needed more time to relocate.
Now the ministry says airlines have until tomorrow to move their aircraft to five other airports in and around Jakarta.
The airports are Jakarta Tangerang city’s Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, Budiarto Airport and Pondok Cabe Airport, west Java Bandung city’s Husein Sastranegara International Airport and Majalengka Regency’s Kertajati International Airport, it adds.
Muhammad Awaluddin, president director of PT Angkasa Pura II, the government-owned airport operator of Halim airport, has told Indonesian newspaper Kompas that it has formed an ‘Operation Readiness and Airport Transfer’ (ORAT) team.
He says it has been working with stakeholders such as the Ministry of Transportation, airport authority and air navigation services provider AirNav Indonesia for about two months to come up with the relocation plan.
“There are a total of 21 flight operators, including 17 non-scheduled commercial operators, two scheduled commercial operators and two cargo operators, with a total fleet of 67 aircraft. Twelve military aircraft will also be relocated to other airports,” he adds.
Cargo operators relocating to Soekarno-Hatta Airport Terminal 1 apron
Non-scheduled operators relocating to Soekarno-Hatta Airport Terminal 1 apron
Non-scheduled operators relocating to Soekarno-Hatta Airport GMF AeroAsia hangar
Non-scheduled operators relocating to Pondok Cabe Airport
Non-scheduled operators relocating to Budiarto Airport
Non-scheduled operator relocating to Husein Sastranegara International Airport
The two scheduled commercial airlines at Halim airport are Batik Air and Citilink Air, which are relocating to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, though the report did not specify the number of aircraft. It says arrivals to Halim airport will be diverted to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Kertajati Airport is also ready to provide support, allowing operators to place their cargo aircraft or “remain-over-night” aircraft and other military activities, it adds.
Muhammad Wasid, director of operation and services of PT Angkasa Pura II, tells Kompas that flight safety and security facilities at these receiving airports will be able to handle the fleet movements.
An industry source tells Smart Aviation Asia Pacific that the closure of Halim airport will definitely affect some operators’ business models.
“Halim Airport is open 24 hours a day, whereas some of these airports are not. Operators might have to shift their schedule forward, to take off and land in the daytime, as there is a lack of alternate airports at night, which will be an issue,” the source says.
Picture Source: foursquare.com
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Indonesian Air Operators Worried As Jakarta’s Halim Airport Announces Closure For Renovation (9 November 2021)
