Domestic airlines prepare for busy holiday season

Domestic airlines prepare for busy holiday season

Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With the Idul Fitri holiday and year-end festivities
approaching, airlines are preparing extra flights and promising
better services.

Airlines contacted by The Jakarta Post said they had allocated
more seats this year compared to last year to anticipate an
increase in passengers.

"We see an increasing trend in the number of air passenger
this year. More people prefer to take airplanes than any other
mode of transportation," Nurwulan Handayani, spokeswoman for Star
Air, told The Jakarta Post recently.

Pujobroto, spokesman for flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, said
the airline had prepared 65,028 seats for 13 domestic and
international routes to anticipate a jump in a number of
passengers during the upcoming Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year
holidays.

Of the total, 38,548 are for Idul Fitri, while the remaining
26,480 are for Christmas and New Year.

"We had fewer seats last year compared to this year,"
Pujobroto said, adding that Garuda allocated around 30,000 seats
for last year's Idul Fitri.

Nurwulan said that this year, Star Air would operate six
aircraft with around 750 seats to serve passengers during Idul
Fitri and year-end festivities. Last year, Star Air only operated
four aircraft.

Indonesia's airline industry has seen an increasing number of
air passengers in the past two years as more airlines entered the
market offering cheaper flights. Many people who in the past
could only afford to travel by train, ship or bus now choose to
go by plane.

The Indonesian National Air Carriers Association (INACA)
estimates that this year some 9.7 million people will travel by
air.

Nurwulan said the growing number of air travelers was indeed a
boon for airlines, particularly new ones.

She said that after engaging in a price war during low season,
airlines were expecting to be able to jack up their prices during
the incoming holiday season.

"Holidays are our most profitable time," Nurwulan said.

According to Nurwulan, Star Air, which started operation in
2001, usually increases it ticket prices by up to 40 percent
during holiday seasons.

Hasyim Arsal Al Habsi, spokesman for Lion Air, another new
airline, said on Metro TV that increasing ticket prices was
necessary since not all airplanes were full during holidays.

"Price increases are necessary because, for example, we fly to
a city with a plane full of passengers but come back with fewer
passenger," Hasyim said.

However, for an established airline like Garuda, increasing
ticket prices is not necessary.

"We shall not increase our ticket prices. Ticket prices are
based on flexibility," Pujobroto explained.

For example, Pujobroto said, a ticket with a three month
validity would cost more than a one-month ticket.

Airlines are also promising better services to attract
passengers.

"For example, we decorate our cabins in a theme to match the
fasting month and holiday time," Nurwulan said.

Another strategy, Nurwulan said, was to ensure prompt takeoffs
and arrivals.

"Thus, passengers know they can arrive on time and safely,"
Nurwulan said.

Passenger comfort during the holiday is a priority for Garuda,
Pujobroto said.

He said the airline would maximize the utilization of its
facilities, such as city check-in facilities and call centers for
reservations, to offer better services to passengers.

"A lot of people will rush to the airport this season. They
can make use of our city check-in facilities or our call center
to make their journey easier," Pujobroto said.

Nurwulan added that improved passenger services were expected
to compensate for high ticket prices.

"Automatically, we have to give our best services to
passengers," she remarked.