Jayapura, Jubi – In relation to the implementation of air tolls to suppress price disparities in Papua and North Kalimantan by the Ministry of Transportation Program, Director of PT Associated Mission Aviation (AMA) Sentani, Djarot Soetanto admitted that he has not received operational guidelines.
“Perhaps we have not seen it and we do not know how the implementation of air bridge or air toll, although he knew that fuel subsidy is already exists but there is a need to cross subsidies for airplane fuels, since it is very influential,” said Soetanto to Jubi, Sunday (May 28) .
With 10 pieces of pilatus aircraft type, PAC and Caravan, Soetanto hopes will serve the community.
As quoted by Tempo.co late last year, the Ministry of Transportation set up a subsidized logistics fund worth Rp300 billion in 2017. Of the Rp300 billion amount, Rp100 billion is channeled to sea tolls and the rest should be to the air toll.
Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi expects subsidies to reduce logistics costs and reduce prices of goods, especially in eastern Indonesia.
Budi said the subsidies will be given to ship operators and airlines carrying goods to the east. These subsidies will help cover operational costs since it took high costs to deliver goods to the eastern region is much higher than the purchasing power of the people there.
For air toll subsidies, according to Budi, the budget is allocated specifically for distribution to Papua. Kemenhub focuses on distribution through three airports, namely Timika, Wamena, and Sentani. The airline will go through a tender process to become an air carrier operator. (*)
