Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi on Friday traveled on the inaugural flight on the Jakarta-Lubuk Linggau route, which has been reopened ahead of the Eid al-Fitr homecoming after being suspended due to the pandemic.
The flight traveled from Soekarno Hatta Airport to Silampari Airport in Lubuk Linggau, South Sumatra province.
Sumadi interacted with passengers on the plane and asked for their feedback on the reopening of the Jakarta-Lubuk Linggau flight route.
“The passengers said that they were happy regarding the flight route reopening,” Sumadi noted in a press statement issued on Friday.
He said that Silampari Airport, Lubuk Linggau, has become a connectivity hub for surrounding districts such as Musi Rawas, North Musi Rawas, Pagar Alam, Lahat, and Muara Enim.
“We are committed to maintaining connectivity between regions in Indonesia,” Sumadi added.
He also expressed gratitude to the Mayor of Lubuk Linggau, head of the Musi Rawas district, head of North Musi Rawas district, and the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) for the flight reopening.
“Let us work together to develop South Sumatra,” he remarked.
On the same occasion, Lubuk Linggau Mayor S.N. Prana Putra Sohe expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Transportation and related parties for reopening flights to and from Lubuk Linggau.
“We hope that the flight reopening can facilitate people’s mobility and revive the economy in Lubuk Linggau and its surroundings,” Sohe remarked.
During Friday’s inaugural flight, Batik Air served the Cengkareng-Lubuk Linggau route with 155 passengers on board and the Lubuk Linggau-Cengkareng route with 111 passengers. Silampari Airport had suspended operations since October 30, 2021.
During his working visit to Lubuk Linggau, Sadikin also reviewed the implementation of mass vaccinations and distributed 500 food packages to an orphanage in Lubuk Linggau.
Director general of civil aviation, Novie Riyanto; head of Musi Rawas district, Hj. Ratna Machmud; head of North Musi Rawas district, H. Devi Suhartoni; member of Commission V of DPR RI, Eddy Santana Putra; and member of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), Giri Ramanda N. Kiemas, also attended the flight route reopening.
Source: Antara News