Yogyakarta to host 17th ASEAN-China air services meeting

Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Transportation will hold the 17th ASEAN-China Working Group on Regional Air Services Arrangement (ACWG-RASA) to strengthen international air connectivity.

Director of Air Transportation at the ministry, Agustinus Budi Hartono, said here on Wednesday that the cooperation forum in the air transport sector between ASEAN and China will be held in Yogyakarta on July 7-9, 2026.

"We deliberately chose Yogyakarta because we want to promote Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) to attract more international flights to the airport, as well as to highlight Yogyakarta's tourism," he said.

To organize the forum, the ministry held an audience with the Governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, as Yogyakarta will host the international meeting.

"We were received by the Governor and reported that we will hold this ASEAN-China meeting. He welcomed it positively and will support the event. If possible, he will also open the event," Hartono added.

According to him, the meeting will not only discuss strengthening air transport cooperation between ASEAN and China but also introduce the potential of YIA as one of the national strategic aviation infrastructures.

He said around 200 participants from 22 air transport companies are expected to attend the ASEAN-China forum.

"This meeting is held routinely. Indonesia happens to be the host this year. Last year it was in China, so it rotates annually. Two years ago it was in Labuan Bajo, and this year we chose Yogyakarta. There will be 22 companies attending," he said.

General Manager of YIA Muhammad Thamrin said that China is currently the third-largest source market for foreign tourists to Yogyakarta.

Therefore, his side expressed hope that the holding of the 17th ACWG-RASA can attract greater interest from the Chinese market and open opportunities for direct flights from mainland China to Yogyakarta.

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Translator: Hery, Kenzu

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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