Aircraft Shortage Cited as Key Factor Behind High Ticket Prices, InJourney Airports Says

JAKARTA — The number of aircraft operating in Indonesia remains significantly below market demand, constraining flight capacity and contributing to high ticket prices, according to aviation sector officials.

Achmad Syahir, Deputy Chief Executive of PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (InJourney Airports), stated that the aircraft shortage is not unique to Indonesia but represents a global challenge. Global aircraft shortages stand at approximately 18 per cent based on 2024 data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), whilst Indonesia faces a shortfall of around 23 per cent.

“During COVID-19, several aircraft were grounded, and many remain in the process of being reactivated. This shortage directly impacts flight optimisation at our airports, particularly the 37 airports we operate,” Syahir explained at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on 11 March 2026.

The aircraft deficit creates an imbalance between supply and demand in the aviation market, a key factor driving elevated ticket prices frequently criticised by the public. Compared with pre-pandemic conditions in 2019, Indonesia’s aviation sector has not fully recovered regarding passenger numbers and flight frequency.

However, recent data shows modest improvement. Passenger numbers increased by approximately 0.57 per cent over the past two years, though flight frequency declined during the same period.

Among Indonesia’s five major airports—Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Juanda International Airport, Kualanamu International Airport, and Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport—only two recorded positive growth compared with 2025. Soekarno-Hatta and Ngurah Rai showed positive trends, whilst Medan, Makassar, and Surabaya continued to record negative growth.