Sam Ratulangi Airport Serves 1,9 Million Passengers Until Third Quarter

Manado - Sam Ratulangi Airport Manado recorded an increase in the number of passenger with the positive growth percentage. Until third quarter or September ago recorded 1,9 million domestic and international passenger movements at Sam Ratulangi Airport.

“Last year in the same period in third quarter we served at 1,5 million passengers, while in this year at 1,9 million people. It means that, there is a percentage of positive growth at 27%,” said Nugroho Jati General Manager of Sam Ratulangi Airport Manado.

He also admitted that the growth rate is strongly influenced by the increase of foreign tourist arrivals to North Sulawesi Province as well as various national events held in Manado. The number on international passengers reached 67 thousand people, an increase of 56% from the previous year, recorded 42 thousand passengers. “We can be said that the international passenger growth in third quarter of this year is the highest growth since the last three years, even more than the achievement in 2015 ago of 53 thousand passengers,” he explained.

Furthermore, he also explained that the aggressive passenger growth is due to arrival of charter flight from China since July 4, ago until end of Third quarter. “We as airport management continue to be maintained a very good synergy between the Local Governments, tourism boards, and tourism industry to make promotional efforts so we attract more foreign tourists to come. Currently, as cooperation, we are exploring that the airport is not merely an infrastructure but also how we can play an active role towards the development and growth of the local economy through Trade, Tourism and Investment (TTI),” he added.

Meanwhile, the number of domestic passengers also grew with a total of 1.8 million people, an increase of 25% from the previous year which recorded 1.4 million people. Lion Group still becomes the airline with scheduled flight hours with total flights of 22 routes, namely 10 flight routes for Wings Air, 9 flight routes for Lion Air and 3 flight routes for Batik Air.

While airline with another domestic route is Garuda Indonesia with 9 flight routes, followed by Citilink with 3 flight routes, Sriwijaya and Airfast each 2 flight routes.

“Total airline and cargo movements also increased compared to last year. For cargo, until third quarter at 9.5 million kilos, an increase of 7% compared the previous year at 8.8 million kilos,” he added. In last year airline movements at 15 thousand movements, this year the number has reached 19 thousand, growing by 25%. “All production aspects grow positive until third quarter. For that, we try to counterbalance it by increasing the quality of services, both in facilities and readiness of human resources. We need support from all parties in order to provide maximal services,” he concluded.