Garuda Indonesia Group Lowers Air Ticket Prices by 20%
After plenty of public outcry over the past month, the Garuda Indonesia Group decided to cut prices of air tickets by 20 percent for all domestic flight routes. Starting per Thursday (14.02.2019), air passengers can enjoy lower ticket prices when flying Garuda Indonesia, Citilink Indonesia, Sriwijaya Air, and NAM Air.
I Gusti Ngurah Askhara Danadiputra, President Director of Garuda Indonesia, confirmed on Wednesday evening (13.02.2019) that prices of all domestic routes would be cut by 20 percent the following day. He emphasized that it is not a discount nor a temporary promo offer.
His statement came several hours after Indonesian President Joko Widodo had organized a meeting to discuss public outcry related to the high air ticket prices in Indonesia. During the meeting Widodo ordered the Garuda Indonesia Group to cut its prices (the central government owns a 60.5 percent stake in Garuda Indonesia) to make flying more accessible to the people.
Normally, prices of airplane tickets rise ahead of the year-end as more people travel during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Bu what was unusual in January 2019 was that prices did not ease. This year, air ticket prices remained high and caused public outcry among the Indonesian population. In fact, Indonesia’s Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) even announced in mid-January 2019 that it had been investigating a number of local airlines related to “alleged cartel practices in determining flight fares”.
Indonesian media highlighted this issue as stories surfaced that it is now cheaper for people to fly from Aceh to Jakarta using international flights through Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) than flying directly to Jakarta using domestic airlines. Another example that was used in local media is that it is now cheaper to fly from Singapore to Jakarta than it is to fly from Batam to Jakarta.
This situation is primarily caused by two factors: (1) a lack of airlines serving certain domestic routes, especially outside the island of Java, and (2) some foreign airlines can count on financial incentives from their governments and therefore can offer lower ticket prices (hence they are less affected by increases in prices of aviation fuel).
Widodo also called on state-owned oil and gas holding company Pertamina to lower aviation fuel (avtur) prices. Earlier, Widodo had hinted at allowing other companies to sell avtur which would help lower prices and encourage efficiency.
After the Garuda Indonesia Group acquired operational control of the Sriwijaya Group (which consists of Sriwijaya Air and NAM Air) in November 2018 there has been rising concern about oligopoly in the aviation market of Indonesia as there are now two big players that dominate the market: (1) the Garuda Indonesia Group (Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Sriwijaya Air and NAM Air) and (2) the Lion Air Group (Lion Air, Batik Air and Wings Air). When there exists an oligopoly it becomes easier for the market leaders to manipulate fares, even though this kind of practice violates Indonesian Law No. 5/1999 on the Prohibition of Monopoly and Unhealthy Business Practices. Garuda Indonesia is majority owned by the central government of Indonesia.
Top Ten Market Share in Indonesia's Domestic Aviation Market (2017):
Airline | Market Share |
Passengers |
Lion Air | 34% | 33,131,053 |
Garuda Indonesia | 20% | 19,601,133 |
Citilink Indonesia | 13% | 12,229,188 |
Batik Air | 10% | 10,079,902 |
Sriwijaya Air | 10% | 9,745,162 |
Wings Air | 6% | 5,869,727 |
NAM Air | 3% | 2,437,318 |
Indonesia AirAsia | 1% | 1,087,946 |
Indonesia AirAsia Extra | 1% | 1,033,969 |
Trigana Air Service | 1% | 686,641 |
Top Market Share in Indonesia's International Aviation Market (2017):
Airline | Market Share |
Passengers |
Garuda Indonesia | 39% | 4,833,194 |
Indonesia AirAsia | 26% | 3,273,758 |
Lion Air | 18% | 2,234,970 |
Indonesia AirAsia Extra | 10% | 1,256,037 |
Batik Air | 4% | 499,012 |
Sriwijaya Air | 2% | 283,936 |
Citilink Indonesia | 0.3% | 45,586 |
Travel Express | 0.3% | 42,327 |
NAM Air | 0.2% | 25,622 |
Source: Bisnis Indonesia
The Indonesian government sets minimum and maximum price ranges for domestic flight routes in Indonesia in a bid to protect both the nation's airlines and consumers.
Minimum-Maximum Price Ranges Popular Domestic Routes (One Way):
Route | Minimum Price |
Maximum Price |
Jakarta-Medan | IDR 632,000 | IDR 2,108,000 |
Jakarta-Padang | IDR 512,000 | IDR 1,706,000 |
Jakarta-Yogyakarta | IDR 299,000 | IDR 998,000 |
Jakarta-Denpasar | IDR 495,000 | IDR 1,651,000 |
Jakarta-Surabaya | IDR 412,000 | IDR 1,372,000 |
Jakarta-Jayapura | IDR 1,640,000 | IDR 5,468,000 |
Source: Bisnis Indonesia
For in-depth stories, we refer you to our monthly research report. This report provides detailed analyses of economic, political and social developments that have occurred in Indonesia over the past month.
Poll Indonesia Investments:
Has corruption been falling in Indonesian society (politics/governance/business) over the past decade?
Voting possible: -
Results
- Yes, Indonesia is now less corrupt than 10 years ago (47.4%)
- No, it has stayed at the same level (21.4%)
- No, Indonesia has become even more corrupt (20.5%)
- No opinion (10.8%)
Total amount of votes: 870
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