HARMONIZATION OF THE AVIATION SECTOR WITHIN PRESIDENT JOKOWI’S MARITIME POLICY:A WAY TO PROMOTE PIONEER FLIGHTS
Abstract: As the biggest
archipelagic state in the world, the Indonesian government hasbeen aware of the
importance of both air and sea transportation in connecting the remote islands
with the main islands and thus developing the economy. However,it could not be
denied that for many years the country had been trapped within a transportation
policy favoring land over the aviation and maritime sectors. It thus came as a
relief when the current government announced a pro-maritime transportation
policy as their main priority. Whilethis pivot is certainly welcome, it still
fails to address the other ‘life line’ of the Indonesian geographic periphery,
namely aviation. Currently airlines serve pioneer or isolated routes to these
areas which are not financially viable, meaning they are flying at a ‘loss’. To
compensate this, state subsidies are granted to these airlines. One of the main
concerns therefore, is that there must not be an overlap between airline and
ship routes so that subsidies can be concentrated to maximize coverage of the
remote islands.Harmonization between the aviation and maritime sectors must be
translated within a legal framework.Learning from the European Union is one of
the best options so far considering their successful law making and effective
implementation within its member states to avoid overlapping between airlines
and other transportation modes. Furthermore, failure to present subsidies under
Public Service Obligation to develop the aviation, not only maritime, sectors
shall mean a nightmare for the country's dream to become a maritime axis in
ASEAN.
Penulis: Ridha Aditya Nugraha
Kode Jurnal: jphukumdd161055
