Tourism ministry seeks solutions to rising airfare costs

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Tourism stated that it is continuing intensive discussions with the Ministry of Transportation regarding rising aviation fuel prices, which affect air transport connectivity and have broader implications for the economy.

“We, together with the Ministry of Transportation, are communicating with the domestic aviation industry to maintain a healthy national aviation ecosystem, which will have a positive impact on sustaining the growth of the national tourism sector,” the ministry told ANTARA on Saturday.

The ministry noted that it has been working closely with the Ministry of Transportation and other relevant institutions to implement strategic mitigation measures aimed at controlling increases in domestic airfares resulting from higher fuel costs.

The effort is intended to keep air travel affordable for tourists and encourage domestic travel, in line with the #BanggaBerwisataDiIndonesia (#ProudToTravelInIndonesia) campaign.

The government has also been working to foster a healthy tourism ecosystem by supporting affordable airfare through various aviation efficiency measures.

Recently, the government issued Transportation Ministerial Decree No. KM 1041 of 2026, which allows airlines to impose a fuel surcharge of up to 50 percent of the upper fare limit.

The policy follows a sharp increase in aviation fuel prices in May 2026, when the average price reached Rp29,116 per liter. Earlier, through Decree No. KM 83 of 2026, the government had raised the fuel surcharge by 38 percent, a move estimated to increase domestic airfares by between 9 and 13 percent.

To help ease airlines’ operational cost burden and keep ticket prices affordable, the government is also covering the 11 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on domestic economy-class flights and reducing import duties on aircraft spare parts to zero percent.

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Translator: Hreeloita, Kenzu

Editor: Primayanti

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