Jakarta – Next year, some people will be able to enjoy using helicopters as a mode of public transportation to travel around Greater Jakarta and to Bandung in West Java.
State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II signed on Wednesday an agreement to team up with air charter operator PT Whitesky Aviation to provide the helicopter service to the public beginning in 2018.
"Passengers who want to take this mode of transportation can buy tickets through our call center, which will be integrated with AP II," Whitesky Aviation director Denon Prawiraatmadja said as quoted by tribunnews.com after the agreement signing, which was attended by Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumardi and AP II director Muhammad Awaludin.
Denon said that the passengers would be required to pay Rp 1.2 million (US$90) to ride the helicopter from the airport to Pantai Indah Kapuk in North Jakarta, as well as to the Greater Jakarta areas of Bintaro and Cikampek, and Rp 3 million to Bandung. Each helicopter can accommodate six passengers. The company now has four helicopters and will buy another four by the end of 2017, Denon said.
Whitesky Aviation and AP II would also develop a heliport on 2.8 hectares of land on Jl. Parimeter Selatan, Neglasari, Tangerang. The heliport would include a helipad, hangar, waiting room, office and medical facilities. (cal)