Angkasa Pura

The more optimal Silangit Airport Supports Lake Toba Tourism as a 2020 Super Priority Destination

Jakarta - The government established the Lake Toba region, North Sumatra, as one of 5 super priority destinations to be the pride of Indonesia.

Following this, PT Angkasa Pura II has been focusing on developing sustainable in the Silangit International Airport for the past few years.

Silangit itself is the closest airport to the Lake Toba area, where the distance between Silangit and Lake Toba can be reached in about 30 minutes to 1 hour by motorized vehicle.

Until 2017, the development that has been carried out by PT Angkasa Pura II at Silangit International Airport is the modernization and revitalization of the terminal to a capacity of 500,000 passengers per year, as well as an increase in runway capacity to serve medium-sized aircraft (narrow body) flights such as Boeing 737 and similar .

Meanwhile, the development currently underway in 2019 is the construction or expansion of the terminal to have a capacity of 750,000 passengers per year. This work is targeted to be completed in January next year.

As for today, Saturday 7 December 2019, the Chairperson and Member of Commission VI of the Indonesian Parliament accompanied by President Director of PT Angkasa Pura II Muhammad Awaluddin and Finance Director Bayu Rafisukmawan conducted a review of the progress of the terminal and overall operational expansion in Silangit.

"The growth of airplane passengers in Silangit is quite encouraging, therefore we are expanding the terminal so that service standards are maintained. In 2020, the terminal capacity in Silangit will increase to 750,000 passengers so that service standards can be maintained and increased, "said PT Angkasa Pura II President Director Muhammad Awaluddin.

"PT Angkasa Pura II has also completed the expansion of the apron so that Silangit now has 5 parking stands for aircraft."

Muhammad Awaluddin revealed the number of aircraft passengers has continued to increase since the Silangit International Airport was opened for direct flights to and from Jakarta in 2016.

In 2016 the number of passengers was 155,214 people, then increased in 2017 to 282,586 people, then in 2018 there were 425,476 people.

"The significant increase in the number of passengers each year is in line with the growing recognition of Lake Toba as the main destination in Indonesia. This also indicates that the Silangit Airport is indeed the main gate to Lake Toba. Therefore, the development in Silangit must be carried out continuously, "said Muhammad Awaluddin.

Not only developing infrastructure, PT Angkasa Pura II also presents the Airport Digital Journey Experience through self check-in machines, E-kiosk, digital banners, digital feedback, digital feedback, flight information display systems (FIDS), as well as information and services in the application Indonesia Airports that can be accessed directly from a smartphone.

At Silangit Airport airplane passengers can also find Millennial Corner as a place to relax and gather at the airport.

"The Digital Journey Experience Airport has become a standard of service in all PT Angkasa Pura II airports including in Silangit to accommodate the needs of travelers who are currently more millennial," Muhammad Awaluddin said.

The House of Representatives Commission VI gave appreciation for the development at the Silangit International Airport by PT Angkasa Pura II. Nevertheless, in order for Silangit to have a greater positive impact, the House of Representatives Commission VI considers that it needs support from the regional government, provincial government, and the central government.

"So that the local government around Silangit Airport can create synergies and collaborations to support Silangit Airport to improve local tourism."

Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives also requested that the atmosphere (ambiance) at Silangit Airport could further create a nuance of a vacation since arriving at the passenger arrival terminal.

At present, Silangit International Airport serves a number of domestic and international flight routes. The routes served are from and to Jakarta, Kualanamu, Gunung Sitoli, Subang (Malaysia), and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).