Angkasa Pura

Stretching Cargo Transportation at Kertajati Airport, Many Airlines are Gradually Operating Freighters and Opening International Routes

The Minister of Transportation inaugurated Trigana Air's inaugural flight on March 8, 2022, following Asia Cargo, which has been operating since December 2021

Jakarta - PT Angkasa Pura II encourages Kertajati Airport to be more optimal in contributing to the West Java economy.

Kertajati Airport itself is currently being prepared to become a center for logistics activities, aircraft maintenance (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul / MRO) as well as serving embarkation and debarkation of Hajj and Umrah.

In line with this, AP II focuses on increasing flight traffic for cargo airlines at Kertajati Airport.

Recently, Trigana Air has officially operated a special cargo plane (freighter) to transport cargo to and from Kertajati Airport starting March 8, 2022. The inaugural flight of Trigana Air was inaugurated directly by the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi.

"This is a good move. Even though it's still in the middle of a pandemic, now every day there are flights at Kertajati. Even on a certain day there are two fully loaded cargo flights," explained the Minister of Transportation.

AP II President Director Muhammad Awaluddin said cargo transportation was a sector that was still growing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The aviation sector in general is still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for passenger transportation. Meanwhile, cargo transportation is still increasing. Therefore, the Ministry of Transportation together with AP II and all stakeholders, focus on preparing Kertajati Airport as a center for logistics activities, including the development of cargo transportation, "said Muhammad Awaluddin.

Meanwhile, Trigana Air's operations follow the airline Asia Cargo, which has opened flight routes to and from Kertajati Airport since December 2021.

Muhammad Awaluddin said the operation of these two special airlines to transport cargo indicated that Kertajati Airport had an attraction for the national logistics sector.

"The movement of cargo transportation has begun to be seen at Kertajati Airport along with the operation of two airlines that specifically carry cargo," said Muhammad Awaluddin.

Trigana Air's Commercial Director Daniel Kurniawan said the potential for cargo transportation at Kertajati Airport is very good because of its strategic location. Currently, Trigana Air serves cargo flights on domestic routes.

Plt. Kertajati Airport EGM Nuril Huda said cargo flights at Kertajati Airport are served every day.

“Trigana Air serves flights every day or daily, as many as two flights per day. Meanwhile, Asia Cargo serves flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays, each one flight per day," explained Nuril Huda.

He said the carrying capacity of each cargo plane for one flight is 15 tons for various purposes. The types of cargo transported are mostly goods/products from e-commerce.

President Director of PT Bandara Internasional Jawa Barat, Muhamad Singgih, said that in the near future, it is likely that there will be additional special cargo flights at Kertajati Airport for international routes.

"Currently, cargo flights are for domestic routes and there will be flights on international routes," said Muhamad Singgih.

The growth of e-commerce has indeed become one of the drivers of increasing the volume of cargo transportation at AP II airports. In 2021, the volume of cargo transportation at AP II airports will cumulatively reach 859,330 tons, an increase of about 20.53% compared to 2020 of 712,990 tons.

AP II is currently preparing to develop the Cargo Village area at Soekarno-Hatta Airport and Kertajati Airport in order to optimize the potential in the cargo transportation sector.