The Ministry of Transportation has designated Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) as one of 10 airports in Indonesia as the entry point for foreign travelers (PPLN). This condition will encourage an increase in export-import and air cargo activities. PTS General Manager of YIA Airport Agus Pandu Purnama said this determination was based on the Circular Letter of the Ministry of Transportation Number 42 of 2022 concerning the Guidelines for Overseas Travel (PPLN) with Air Transportation during the Covid-19 Pandemic Period. This decision is effective from 6 April 2022.
"This decision makes YIA Airport one of the entry points that encourage the export growth of DIY's superior products," said Pandu at the DIY Import Export Communication and Consultation Forum meeting, Sunday (23/4/2022). The opening of YIA will be an opportunity for exporters as a direct flight route and import export. YIA has flown the first and largest export cargo using the Antonov International AN 124-100 aircraft to Columbus (LCK) in the United States carrying 62 tons of wire harness (cable) cargo in 2021. “This indicates that YIA is ready and can be developed to support its growing potential cargo sector," he said. YIA Airport has a cargo terminal with a capacity of 3,546 square meters for a domestic cargo terminal with a capacity of 390 tons, and 2,304 square meters for an international cargo terminal with a capacity of 250 tons. "YIA Airport also has potential with plans to develop a cargo village in the aerotropolis area," he said.
Assistant for the Economy and Development of the DIY Regional Secretary, Tri Saktiyana, stated that the opening of international routes at YIA was an opportunity for regional exporters who had MSME products. It requires collaboration between passengers and cargo and the goods and tourism industries. "There is a need for facilitation for MSMEs, which are quite large in number but the production scale is still not optimal if exports are carried out independently." Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Export Companies (GPEI) DIY, Yuyun Yunastuti said, it was necessary to add flight routes to China, Thailand, Vietnam and America as well as Europe so that the cargo service sector could develop.
