Airportman.id – The Ministry of Transportation continues to develop Atung Bungsu Airport, which is located in Mingkik Village, Dempo District, Pagar Alam City, South Sumatra Province, after being handed over to the Pagar Alam City Government for its management to the Directorate General of Air Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation in early 2020.

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said the airport development was carried out to support the tourism sector in Pagar Alam City. The statement was conveyed by the Minister of Transportation while reviewing Atung Bungsu Airport on Wednesday (19/1).

"Two years ago I came here and the situation was not good. Now the condition of this airport is above the average for airports with a runway length of 1,600 meters in Indonesia," said the Minister of Transportation.

The Minister of Transportation said that Pagar Alam City is one of the potential tourist destinations in South Sumatra. "Tourism is an activity that generates income for the region. If many tourists come here, the regional and national economy will move," said the Minister of Transportation.

The Minister of Transportation invited local governments to support optimizing existing transportation infrastructure and facilities by promoting tourism potential in Pagar Alam. "The airport's infrastructure is adequate, it's just a matter of supporting the local government to proactively optimize flights, collaborating with surrounding areas to increase passenger occupancy rates," said the Minister of Transportation.

The Minister of Transportation believes that with the leadership of the Mayor of Pagar Alam, the existing tourism potential can be optimized. "I remember when I was little, I went on vacation to Pagar Alam, it was very interesting. Let's build this city together. I am sure that the governor, mayor and their staff can do it," said the Minister of Transportation.

On the same occasion, Pagar Alam Mayor Alpian Maskoni expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Transportation for building and developing air transportation facilities in Pagar Alam.

"The Minister of Transportation is the first Minister who has come twice to the city of Pagar Alam. The first is in 2019, where the condition of the airport is not as grand as it is now," said Mayor Alpian.

He revealed that as a city that relies on the tourism sector, transportation infrastructure and facilities could facilitate connectivity to and from Pagar Alam.

"We hope that the condition of the city of Pagar Alam, which had slumped due to the pandemic, can recover soon. With the presence of this magnificent airport, it is hoped that the addition of regular flights will soon be followed," he said.

In addition to air transportation facilities, the Ministry of Transportation also assisted 1 unit of school buses to the Pagar Alam City Government in 2020.

Pagar Alam City has many tourism potentials such as waterfalls, plantations, megalithic rock sites, and adventure rides. In addition, this city also has abundant natural resource potential such as rubber plantations, tea, palm oil, coal mines, Steam, and Thermal Power Plants, and several foreign companies have offices in Pagar Alam.

Currently, Atung Bungsu Airport has a runway of 1,500 m x 30 m, a taxiway of 186 m x 15 m, a parking area (apron) of 110 m x 70 m, and a passenger terminal covering an area of 2,350 m² which can accommodate 233 people. Thousands of passengers per year.

This airport serves Wings Air flights daily on the Palembang – Pagar Alam – Palembang route and Susi Air pioneer flights 4 times a week on the Bengkulu – Pagar Alam – Palembang route. However, due to the pandemic, it is now only served by Susi Air. However, the passenger traffic trend is increasing every year. In 2020, there were 170 passengers, and in 2021 it increased to 804 passengers.

Also attending the event were Pagar Alam Mayor Alpian Maskoni, Director General of Air Transportation Novie Riyanto, and Director General of Land Transportation Budi Setiyadi, Head of the Silampari Airport Operations Unit (UPBU) Mega Herdiansyah, as well as members of the regional forkompinda Pagar Alam city government.

Source: Ministry of Transportation Press Release