Acting Governor of West Papua Paulus Waterpauw said that Garuda Indonesia will reopen domestic routes to and from Rendani Airport, Manokwari. The assurance was obtained after the provincial government coordinated with the Ministry of Transportation and Garuda Indonesia management in Jakarta some time ago.
“I’ve met The Transportation Minister, Director General of Air Flight, and Director of Garuda Indonesia. They agreed, but the airport must be extended,” Paul said in Manokwari, West Papua, Sunday.
In addition, he said, the provincial government has received support from BP Tangguh gas field in Bintuni for the allocation of subsidy fees for 40 flight seats per day. The seat subsidy aid will help the local government to realize an increase in the number of airlines providing services to the public in West Papua.
“BP Bintuni has guaranteed 40 seats (seats) every day which is very helpful to the local government,” Paul explains.
Currently, he said, the provincial government together with the Manokwari District Government is accelerating the completion of the development project of Rendani Airport which includes the extension of the runway, passenger terminals, and other infrastructure. The development project of Manokwari Rendani Airport has received full support from the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Public Works and Housing.
“The conditions from the central government are that the airport must be developed, then can Garuda enter. That’s why the local government is speeding up the completion of the project,” he said.
Manokwari Regent Hermus Indou explained that the extension of the runway in Rendani Airport according to the masterplan is 2,500 meters which is temporarily under construction. However, the local government has targeted a runway length of up to 3,000 metres to accommodate Airbus-type aircraft.
“I have proposed his masterplan to be increased to 3,000 meters and the land acquisition is being done gradually,” Hermus explains.
He explained that the total area of Rendani Airport is 134.5 hectares, but some of the area has been inhabited by citizens, without permission from the airport managers. Thus, the government needs to relocate citizens in order to develop an airport that is truly representative in supporting future economic growth.
“Of the total area, part of it is already under the control of citizens who do not have permission from the UPBU Rendani,” he said.
Bank of Indonesia West Papua Chief Representative Rommy Sariu Tamawiwy appreciated the province’s efforts to expand the airport area and increase the number of air services. Local government efforts have a positive impact on the quality of public services, the development of the tourism sector, and inflation control because air transportation ticket prices are more controlled.
“People have a lot of choices and air transport inflation can be reduced,” Rommy said.
Acting Head of the West Papua Central Agency on Statistcs (BPS) Lasmini said the combined inflation of the two cities in West Papua in July 2023 was 3.62 percent year on year (yoy) compared to the same period in 2022. Inflation was triggered by rising price indices of a number of expenditure groups such as transportation (6.23 percent yoy), food and drink (5.27 percent yoy), recreation and sports (5.36 per cent yoy), and personal care services. (4,98 percent yoy).
“Air transport commodities from the output group still contribute to inflation,” explained Lasmini.
West Papua Now 