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.