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.

Seven Boeing 737 planes were involved in accidents last year, along with two other incidents involving Boeing 777-300ER and 747-400 models.

The most devastating accident occurred on December 29, 2024, when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed during landing at Muan International Airport, South Korea.

The incident, caused by a malfunctioning landing gear, resulted in the loss of 179 lives, with only two cabin crew members surviving. The aircraft was completely destroyed, complicating victim identification.

Erick’s initiative reflects a comprehensive effort to restore public trust in the safety and reliability of state-owned airlines while addressing underlying systemic issues in the aviation sector. This move is also expected to set a benchmark for the industry in the region. (Uki Ruknuddin)

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