Indonesia’s population has witnessed a significant resurgence in mobility, reminiscent of pre-pandemic times, as evidenced by the remarkable volume of passengers recorded at airports managed by Angkasa Pura II (AP II) during the first semester of 2023, which has surpassed the 38 million mark.
Muhammad Awaluddin, the President Director of AP II, elucidated that this substantial figure reflects an impressive recovery rate of 85 percent when compared to the passenger volume during the first semester of 2019, signifying a resolute return to pre-pandemic levels of air travel.
Notably, the recovery rate achieved at the 20 airports under the management of AP II during the initial half of 2023 has surpassed the estimations projected by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which anticipated an 84 percent recovery rate for passenger numbers across the Asia-Pacific region throughout the entirety of 2023. In contrast, the Airport Council International (ACI) reported a relatively lower recovery rate of approximately 80 percent for the Asia-Pacific region in the same period.
Awaluddin enthusiastically stated, “The cumulative recovery rate at AP II airports from January to June 2023 has significantly exceeded the recovery targets set by both IATA and ACI for the Asia-Pacific region throughout the entire year of 2023.” This achievement highlights the resilience and swift rebound of Indonesia’s aviation sector.
Accompanying the surge in passenger numbers, there has also been a notable increase in the utilization of flight slot times. Flight slot times refer to the designated time slots available for departures and arrivals at airports, ensuring efficient scheduling and optimized operations.
It is worth mentioning that each airport managed by AP II possesses varying slot time capacities, tailored to accommodate the specific demands and facilities of the respective airports.
The exceptional peak of slot time utilization during this post-pandemic recovery period can be observed on July 7, 2023, with a remarkable total of 1,978 slot times made available at the 20 AP II airports. Astonishingly, the airlines successfully utilized 1,716 of these slots, leading to a remarkable slot time utilization rate of 87 percent across AP II airports on that particular day.
Awaluddin proudly noted that the utilization of slot times at AP II airports has witnessed a consistent upward trajectory since the beginning of the year. The recent achievement on July 7 not only surpasses the previous year’s average utilization rate of approximately 70 percent but also reflects the steady progression of Indonesia’s aviation industry towards a full recovery.
This significant milestone instills confidence as it indicates that the recovery period for flight traffic at AP II airports post-pandemic is progressing in the right direction.
Awaluddin expressed his satisfaction, saying, “The increased utilization of slot times is a testament to the close coordination and collaborative efforts between AP II, airlines, and other stakeholders in seizing opportunities amidst the growing demand for air travel.”
Remarkably, among the airports that demonstrated the highest utilization rates for flight slot times on July 7 were Silangit Airport (North Tapanuli), Depati Amir Airport (Pangkalpinang), and Fatmawati Soekarno Airport (Bengkulu), with each airport achieving a perfect utilization rate of 100 percent. Additionally, Soekarno-Hatta Airport (Tangerang) displayed a commendable utilization rate of 93 percent, further solidifying its significance as a major hub for air travel in the country.
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