September 8, 2025 | 09:18 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Minister of Transportation, Dudy Purwagandhi, stated that the reopening of international flight routes is a strategic step to expand air transportation accessibility and strengthen Indonesia's global competitiveness.
"The opening of international routes is expected not only to provide opportunities for mobility for foreign tourists and businesses, but also to drive regional economic growth and strengthen Indonesia's position in the global connectivity network," said Dudy in a statement in Jakarta, on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
He conveyed this in response to the official international flight status of Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang, which has been in operation since September 4, 2025. The inaugural flight was conducted by AirAsia on the Kuala Lumpur-Semarang route. This flight will operate seven times a week.
Dudy explained that this step is a follow-up to the designation of 36 international airports in line with President Prabowo Subianto's Astacita plan to expand connectivity, increase foreign tourist visits, and strengthen regional economies.
"The reopening of international routes is part of the government's major strategy to expand air transportation accessibility outside major cities," he said.
In addition to Semarang, Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II (SMB II) Airport in Palembang has resumed international flights since July 18, 2025, through AirAsia Berhad on the Kuala Lumpur-Palembang route with a frequency of seven times a week. The inaugural flight recorded a load factor of over 90 percent.
Next, Batik Air Malaysia will open the Kuala Lumpur-Palembang route with a frequency of three times a week starting from September 13, 2025, followed by Scoot, which has scheduled the opening of the Singapore-Palembang route in January 2026.
In addition to regular flights, SMB II Airport also serves Umrah charter flights. On July 10, 2025, Lion Air opened the Palembang-Jeddah route with a frequency of once a week, followed by Garuda Indonesia on July 15, 2025, with a frequency of twice a week.
Since its reopening, international passenger movement in Palembang has shown a positive trend, with a total of 4,481 passengers in July 2025, significantly increasing to 10,166 passengers in August 2025.
Dudy emphasized that Palembang and Semarang have a strategic role as tourist entrances as well as regional economic centers. "We hope that this momentum can drive service improvement, strengthen collaboration with airlines, and optimize the promotion of tourist destinations and the potential of each region," he said.
The Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate General of Air Transportation also continues to coordinate with local governments, airport operators, airlines, and related stakeholders to ensure that international standards are maintained, both in terms of safety and passenger comfort.
"We ensure that international standards are maintained, both in terms of safety and passenger comfort. In addition, we also continue to encourage the sustainable development of the opened routes," said Dudy.
He hopes that the resumption of international flights in Semarang and Palembang will not only open access for tourists but also expand opportunities for exporting regional superior products, attract foreign investments, and grow regional economies.
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