AirAsia, a Malaysian low-cost airline with a branch in Indonesia, made its first Jakarta-Macau flight on Aug. 7.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has welcomed the new route, saying it will also reinforce Indonesia’s tourism sector.
“We will continue to support AirAsia in developing new international routes,” Budi said in a statement, adding the ministry has requested airport operators Angkasa Pura I and Angkasa Pura II to cut fees for landing.
“It will become a stimulus for AirAsia to further develop its routes to various tourism destinations in Indonesia,” he said.
“This flight is the fifth after our flights to Jakarta from Penang [Malaysia], Singapore, Bangkok [Thailand] and Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia],” AirAsia Indonesia chief executive Dendy Kurniawan said.
Flights are operated three times a week on the Jakarta-Macau route. In September one more will be added.
“A fourth of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in 2016 were brought by Air Asia. The Jakarta-Macau route will improve the connectivity between Indonesia and southern Chinese cities, meaning more tourist arrivals,” Tourism Ministry’s deputy for foreign tourism marketing development.