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Airnorth Is Set To Launch The Darwin-Lombok Route; However, Slot Allocation Policies Pose A Significant Obstacle

The Australian airline, Airnorth, intends to launch direct flights on the Darwin-Lombok route in 2024. However, this plan is currently hindered by Indonesian government policies regarding international flight slots. According to Arif Haryanto, the Public Relations Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I at Lombok Airport, the Indonesian government restricts foreign airlines from operating flights to Indonesia based on a bilateral agreement with Australia. At present, the flight slots for Australian airlines to Indonesia are fully allocated, while Indonesian national carriers have limited flights to Australia due to fleet constraints. "There is a government-to-government agreement that allows Australian airlines to operate 20 slots into Indonesia, and vice versa for Indonesian airlines to Australia. The slots for Australian airlines are already full, particularly to Bali and Jakarta. Meanwhile, our national carriers have very few flights due to a lack of aircraft. The government aims to protect national airlines through this policy," Arif explained on Saturday, November 23, 2024.

1. Readiness of Lombok Airport

Airnorth conducted a survey and verification at Lombok Airport in February 2024. In terms of infrastructure, Lombok Airport has been deemed ready to accommodate international flights. The airport apron has been expanded from 108,100 square meters to 136,300 square meters, with a capacity for 16 aircraft, comprising 10 narrow-body and 6 wide-body planes. Additionally, the runway has been upgraded from its previous length of 2,750 meters to 3,300 meters, enabling it to serve aircraft such as the Boeing 777. Furthermore, the passenger terminal has been enlarged to 43,501 square meters, allowing it to handle 7 million passengers annually, which is double its previous capacity. "The facilities at Lombok Airport are fully prepared for Airnorth's operations," stated Arif.

2. Airnorth's Survey and Verification at Lombok Airport

Arif expressed hope that the government would reconsider policies that restrict foreign airlines from entering Indonesia. This is crucial for Airnorth to establish direct flights between Darwin and Lombok, which is expected to enhance Lombok's status as a super priority tourist destination in Indonesia. "Given the current inadequacies in the national airline fleet, it is challenging for us to rely on them to open international routes such as to Australia. Meanwhile, foreign airlines like Airnorth are ready but face obstacles due to policy restrictions," he added.

3. Limited International Flight Routes

At present, Lombok Airport only operates two international routes: one to Singapore with Scoot, which flies twice a week, and another to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, serviced by AirAsia and Batik Air Malaysia. Arif believes that the addition of international routes such as Darwin-Lombok would positively impact tourism and the local economy. "We hope that this policy can be revised to fully capitalize on the opportunities for international route development," concluded Arif

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Tag: Airnorth Lombok Airport