Wings Air halts Bandung-Yogyakarta route due to low passenger numbers

Interest in short-distance flights has indeed declined, especially since the toll road network has improved significantly.

Bandung (ANTARA) - Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan stated that Wings Air has halted operations on the flight route from Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung to Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) in Yogyakarta due to low passenger numbers.

The mayor noted that the airline’s decision is driven by business considerations, including the decreasing public interest in short-haul flights using propeller aircraft.

“Interest in short-distance flights has indeed declined, especially since the toll road network has improved,” Farhan said in Bandung on Wednesday.

He explained that even before Kertajati Airport became operational, routes to cities such as Semarang, Solo, and Yogyakarta had already experienced a drop in passengers.

Therefore, the Bandung city government is encouraging the central government to reopen permits for flights using larger-bodied aircraft, particularly for routes outside Java island.

“Nevertheless, the routes with the highest demand are to Bali, Surabaya, Balikpapan, Palembang, Makassar, and Medan,” he added.

Based on ANTARA’s observations, the atmosphere at Husein Sastranegara Airport has returned to being quiet, with very minimal flight activity.

The route was previously operated using ATR 72-500 aircraft with flight codes IW 1812 for Bandung-Yogyakarta and IW 1811 for the return route.

The last flight from Bandung was recorded on the final day of the Lebaran return flow in 2026.