Public still dissatisfied with airport service quality

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang

The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport operator PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II's 100-day service improvement program is apparently unsatisfactory, at least for some passengers.

They still compare the airport, especially terminal IIF mostly for Garuda flights and terminal I for domestic flights served by other national carriers, with a crowded and poorly maintained bus terminal due to the volume of passengers.

Ika, a 50-year old housewife, who was waiting for her Lion Air flight to Yogyakarta at terminal IIF, said she could not spot any changes at the airport.

"I think the airport is the same as it used to be. It's crowded like a bus terminal and far from being comfortable," she told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Fanny, who just arrived at terminal IIE from Yogyakarta, made a similar comment.

"The terminal looks poor in terms of aesthetics. The operator should have improved the appearance of the airport," she said while heading to an awaiting car.

Yasin, 35, a businessman from of Palembang, South Sumatra, said he did not see any changes.

"The only change is that the pedestrian crossing from the terminal to the parking lot has transparent fiberglass roof," he said, adding he visits Jakarta four times a year.

M. Yahya, a 39-year-old taxi driver, complained that the taxis were required to queue in front of the terminal in a certain way.

"The parallel parking system is more dangerous for the drivers than parking in single file. If we're not careful when we park, we could be hit by passing cars," he said.

Ujang, a driver who regularly takes and picks up his employer at the airport twice a week, said he did not find any trouble in finding a parking space.

"The traffic flow into and out of the parking area has been arranged well ... There are no more problems when we park."

He added that many car owners preferred to park their cars as close as possible to the terminal so they do not have to walk far.

On Monday, dozens of workers were still busy setting up parking spaces.

The airport operator started its 100-day service improvement program on April 6 and it was completed on July 23. The operator has spent Rp 1 billion (US$111,111) to refurbish airport lounges, enlarge parking lots and other beautification projects.

Soekarno-Hatta airport was the second out of the top 100 international airports in the world in terms of passenger growth in 2003.