Minister for Transport: Service Disruptions Such as Flight Delays Rapidly Erode Public Confidence

Jakarta — The government is pushing for accelerated transformation of the national aviation sector amid a range of challenges facing the industry, from service quality to the dynamics of operating costs. Minister of Transport Dudy Purwagandhi assesses that the aviation sector is currently under public scrutiny, particularly regarding service quality and passenger travel experience that still needs improvement. ‘We all understand that the aviation sector is currently facing various challenges that are attracting broad public attention,’ Dudy said in an official statement on Thursday, 5 March 2026. ‘In an era of information openness as today, any disruption to air services can quickly become public attention and affect public confidence in the aviation industry,’ he added. A number of issues that are often in the public spotlight include flight delays, airport facilities that are not yet fully optimal, and passenger travel experiences that are considered not yet fully satisfactory. On the other hand, the aviation industry also faces external dynamics that are not light. The challenges include fluctuations in aviation turbine fuel (avtur) prices, the need for investment in technology and infrastructure, and rising demands for higher aviation safety standards. According to Dudy, the transformation of the aviation sector is aimed at improving aviation safety, operational efficiency, and service quality to the public. In addition, the development of the concept of Airportpreneurship is encouraged so that airports are not only transport hubs but also centres of economic growth. ‘Modernisation of air navigation systems and improvements to infrastructure quality also need to be undertaken in the transformation,’ Dudy said. ‘This step is expected to increase service capacity while strengthening safety and on-time performance of flights,’ he added.