Airport Tax to Be Included in the Price of Plane Ticket on Garuda Flights

Jakarta Globe

From Sunday of next week, travelers on Garuda Indonesia will have their airport tax levied when they buy their ticket, sparing them the need to fumble for cash as they head toward the departure gate.

“The airport tax will be included in the price of the ticket from Sept. 1,” State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan was quoted by Antara news agency as saying in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said Garuda would be the first to implement the new policy, which was flagged by the minister several months ago, because the state company already has an information system can be integrated with that of airports.

“At present, the airport tax system is still very primitive,” Dahlan said.

Dahlan said the move brought the country’s airports a step closer to world-class standard. Most airports around the world include taxes in ticket prices, to streamline processes and ensure passengers are not caught short.

Tommy Soetomo, president of state-controlled airport operator Angkasa Pura I, said the company was preparing to integrate the information system of his company’s airports with that of Garuda to implement the new scheme.

The new policy on passenger service charges aims to reduce congestion, with Dahlan previously indicating he was confident it would reduce airport queuing times by at least half.

He said other airlines would follow Garuda’s lead for fear of being left behind.

Currently, passengers at Indonesian airports have to proceed through security scanners, check-in counters and service charge payment booths before they can enter the boarding area, the minister said.

Dahlan also said the government was developing a new system to reduce check-in times, but did not elaborate.

At Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, which services Jakarta, the current passenger service charge is Rp 40,000 for domestic flights and Rp 150,000 for international flights.

Soekarno-Hatta served 51 million passengers last year; its maximum capacity is notionally 22 million passengers.