Indonesia’s transport minister has thrown down the gauntlet to domestic airlines eyeing new international routes, warning them to ‘use it or lose it.’
In a hard hitting keynote speech addressed to delegates during the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) annual assembly in Bali, Ignasius Jonan said if Indonesian airlines are not ready or able to provide new international routes they will be offered it to those that can.
Advocating the Open Skies policy, Jonan said: "I like competition. Only through competition will Indonesian airlines improve," revealing officials have already held talks with a number of international carriers including Emirates and Etihad Airways.
He said demand for air travel in Indonesia is well ahead of the country’s economic growth at about 8% year on year.
On Indonesia’s air safety record Jonan was equally as frank.
"We will impose the safety program with no compromise. We revoked route approval of some airlines because of serious incidents."
With inbound tourism a major priority for the government, the transport ministry will invest $1 billion in safety improvement in air, sea, road and rail services.
This includes the construction of 15 new airports over the next few years and by 2018 the minister said at least 100 airports out of a current number of 237 should be equipped to handle larger passenger jets equivalent to the size of a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320.
Extended runways, upgraded terminals and improvements in air navigation systems are also planned.
