Angkasa Pura

Maintain Skytrax 4 Star Status, Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport Terminal Wider and Magnificent Next Year

Jakarta - A number of airports under PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero) will operate with wider passenger passenger terminals in 2020, one of which is Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport in Pekanbaru.

Next year, the passenger terminal area in Sultan Syarif Kasim II will reach 44,000 square meters or one and a half times the current 29,000 square meters.

In line with the expansion, the terminal capacity will reach 5 million passengers per year compared to the existing 3.5 million passengers per year.

PT Angkasa Pura II President Director Muhammad Awaluddin said the terminal expansion was needed to improve air connectivity in Pekanbaru as well as to accommodate the increasing number of airplane passengers.

In 2018, Sultan Syarif Kasim II had already served 4.13 million passengers. Meanwhile in January - July 2019, the number of airplane passengers had reached around 1.8 million passengers.

"Terminal expansion is indeed needed so that services can be improved and have room to increase flights in Pekanbaru. The terminal expansion work has begun since the beginning of this year, and is targeted to be completed next year, "said Muhammad Awaluddin while reviewing the progress of the expansion of the Sultan Syarif Kasim II passenger terminal.

As the terminal expands, the number of check-in counters has grown to 29 from 19. Meanwhile Garbarata also increased from 4 units to 6 units.

"We want to maintain Sultan Syarif Kasim II's status as a Skytrax 4-star airport, or perhaps raise the status. We believe one way is to expand the terminal so that service standards can improve, "explained Muhammad Awaluddin.

4-Star Regional Airport Rating status was added by Skytrax to Sultan Syarif Kasim II in 2018 following the satisfaction of aircraft passengers in the process of departure, arrival, flight transfers, and the results of evaluating facilities, terminal comfort, cleanliness, shopping areas, F&B, airport staff services, security to immigration.

Other airports receiving 4-star status include Charles de Gaulle in Paris (France), Perth International Airport (Australia), and Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II in Palembang, which is also managed by PT Angkasa Pura II.

Muhammad Awaluddin said to maintain the 4-star status, or improve the status of 5-star which is the highest, it is necessary to develop infrastructure that is integrated with the implementation of digitization in operations and services to aircraft passengers.

"We have implemented the concept of digitizing transformation in all airports under PT Angkasa Pura II including in Sultan Syarif Kasim II, touching operational and service aspects. We also already have the Indonesia Airports application to enhance the experience for aircraft passengers at all airports, "explained Muhammad Awaluddin.