JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Erick Thohir has announced plans to improve safety and efficiency within Indonesia’s state-owned airlines.

This comes in response to a series of aviation incidents in 2024, including the recent tragic crash of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800. Erick emphasized the need to streamline the fleet by reducing the diversity of aircraft types, which he believes will lower maintenance costs.

Speaking at the Ministry of SOEs in Jakarta on Thursday (Jan. 2), Erick pointed out that airlines with fleets comprising various brands face operational inefficiencies.

“We are reviewing this issue to enhance our system. In several countries, airlines with multiple aircraft brands tend to struggle with cost efficiency,” he said.

Erick also underlined the importance of prioritizing crew wellness. Measures will be implemented to ensure that airline staff are physically fit to handle flights.

Additionally, he aims to enhance compliance with aviation safety standards across all domestic airports. Currently, only Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport meet high compliance levels.

“Airports need to prepare for extraordinary circumstances, including weather conditions and the presence of birds, which were contributing factors in last year’s incidents,” Erick said.

The minister addressed concerns surrounding Boeing aircraft, which were involved in nine out of 19 aviation accidents in 2024. However, Erick refrained from blaming the manufacturer, stating, “We do not harbor prejudice against Boeing despite these incidents.”

State-owned airlines Garuda Indonesia, Citilink Indonesia, and Pelita Air Service collectively operate 47 Boeing aircraft, with most managed by Garuda. Boeing models, particularly the 737 series, dominate their operations.