KUALA NAMU Airport as an International Hub

PT Angkasa Pura II will make Kuala Namu Airport Medan as an international aviation hub, while Soekarno-Hatta Jakarta Cengkareng, as the domestic aviation hub.

Angkasa Pura II President Director Tri Sunoko said the commitment to make Kuala Namu airport as a international hub appropriate given its location geographically closer to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Geographical advantages, making flights from Medan to be much more efficient to ASEAN countries and other countries rather than flying from Jakarta in terms of time and fuel.

Since January, Kuala Namu Airport running on shadow operation to test navigation equipment and radar airport.

If after operating officially later, it is optimistic that the airport is located in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, it can shift the position of Singapore's Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Airports.

Tri Sunoko insist the Soekarno-Hatta airport which operating since 1985 is still to be developed considering the capacity already exceeds the limit but will be focusing a collector for domestic airports.

Both airports are also considered in the list of airports that are used to deal with the ASEAN Open Sky 2015.

Therefore, it also requested the cooperation with stakeholders including the Ministry of Transportation in order to realize the plan's two airports. "These ideals we must work together," he said.

Ministry of Transportation reported that there were five airports are prepared to face the Asean Open Sky namely Soekarno Hatta (Jakarta), Juanda (Surabaya), Sultan Hasanuddin (Makassar), Kuala Namu Airport (Medan) and Ngurah Rai (Bali).

AirAsia will move its regional office to Jakarta

Low-cost carrier, AirAsia has said it will focus work on the ASEAN market. Unmitigated AirAsia will move its regional office to Jakarta next year.

"We want to be the ASEAN airline. We probably bring most ASEAN passengers than other airlines, "said CEO of Air Asia, Tony Frenandes at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Bali International Convention Center, Nusa Dua, on Thursday (17/11).

AirAsia's regional offices will move from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta. The launch of the new office itself will take place in January 2012. Tony said AirAsia moved into offices in Jakarta because the office was located ASEAN secretariat in Jakarta. "We want to show that we are no longer a carrier of Malaysia, Thailand, or Indonesia. But we are an ASEAN airline, "he said.

In addition to moving his office, AirAsia will add approximately 100 of the aircraft next year. These planes will serve particular routes in ASEAN. "The problem is, every airline is now looking for the plane. It is a nice problem, "he said. Tony adds, AirAsia is targeting growth of its business was not too affected by floods in Thailand. The company is still optimistic that could grow 20% this year.

Regarding the ASEAN open sky policy, Tony said he really supported it and did not see the risk of Indonesian airlines will lose the market. "Let us be more confident. What is good for the people of Indonesia? I think AirAsia has been quite beneficial to many people of Indonesia, business, hotels, labor, and the pilot is growing. We must think big, think ASEAN, if not we will be beaten by China and India," he said.

picture: google.com

Indonesia Airlines Ready to Compete with Foreign Airlines

Aviation liberalization policy (Open Sky) for commercial aircraft will take place in 2015, but the big five of Indonesia airline companies certainly ready to compete with foreign airlines. Later, each airline would be free to fly point to point from one country to another country without being limited at the airport that has been determined. Director General of Civil Aviation Ministry of Transportation, Herry Bakti Singayudha Gumay say, five national airline has been ready to carry out the implementation of Open Sky.

The five major Indonesian national airline is Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, Sriwijaya Air, Batavia Air and Mandala Airlines. "They have proposed to open domestic routes. Much has been approved," said Herry Bakti. For example, Ministry if Transportation also approved a number of plans the opening of Mandala Airline routes to neighboring countries. "Similarly, Sriwijaya Air, which plans to open Palembang-Kuala Lumpur route had been abandoned by AirAsia," he said.

With the start incoming of those national airlines fleet, the ability of airlines to make expansion even greater. Including opening the route to go abroad. Herry also explained that the airline will be allowed to make flights between airports in one country to another point to point, without being limited frequency of flights. "At this time there had been such a flight. But it is still limited in frequency and on a bilateral agreement," said Herry.

Riau Airlines Add 30 Aircrafts

The local airlines company, Riau Airlines will add 30 new small types aircraft until 2013 for facing the aviation liberalization policy in the ASEAN region, or a known as open sky policy which will implemented in 2015. "At least until 2013 later Riau Airlines to add a jet type aircraft fleet in anticipation of the ASEAN open sky policy will be implemented soon," said Director of Riau Airlines, Teguh Triyanto.

Teguh Triyanto explained, adding the new aircraft fleet with capacity 30-50 passenger seat as an effort to position Riau Airlines as the feeder airlines to serve the short flight routes. In that position it will be easier for Riau Airlines to synergize with the airline on the ASEAN region and to expand their business to grab the aviation world market especially on the island of Sumatra.

Based on the governor of a coordination meeting of Sumatra region, followed by the 10 provincial governments that took place in Pekanbaru 19-21 December 2009 recommending the establishment of Sumatra Air and Riau Airlines acts as the operator's flight from the program. The recommendation also has produced enough positive results for the Riau Airlines and also Bangka Belitung Provincial Government has expressed commitment to work together to open the flight routes in the archipelago.

"Our main focus is the island of Sumatra, but we also be working like in Java Island or other areas in Indonesia as long as our position as a feeder," Teguh explained.

Teguh also said that, until now Riau Airlines has a number of types of aircraft manufacturing with produced either from Europe or America to support the airline's business plan which owned by Stated-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) that 51 per cent ownership of its shares controlled the Riau provincial government. "There are some names that have been our pocket for a business plan forward, but clearly the position of the feeder we'd like to co-exist with other airlines to facilitate people easier travelling," he said.