Parked aircraft at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport to be scrapped

Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport is notoriously congested and for the second time in a few years the management of the airport’s holding company, Angkasa Pura II (AP II), has decided to free up space on the airport’s apron. At least ten virtually derelict aircraft will be scrapped within the next few months after final notices have been served on a number of owners – the culmination of many years of negotiations.
The General Manager of AP II, Iwan Krishadianto, has made it clear that 10 aircraft belonging to Riau Airlines, Air Maleo, Sky Aviation, Indonesia Air Transport, and Air Gatari will be removed after the end of September if no action is taken by the owners. This is not an empty threat as recently AP II scrapped 9 aircraft that were parked up at the airport. Five years ago they removed 23 abandoned aircraft some of which belonged to carriers that were no longer in business, including Mandala Airlines, Bali Air, Bouraq, Jatayu Air and Megantara Airlines. These were towed and relocated to less congested areas of the airport prior to subsequent disposal.
Iwan also indicated that the airport would seek administrative costs as well, which will include the back payment of many years in parking fees, as well as any costs incurred by AP II for the removal and scrapping of the aircraft. “If they take no action, then we will make an official announcement … then carry out the scrapping of the aircraft,” he stated.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (airport code CKG) is located in Cengkareng, West Jakarta on the island of Java. Located some 20km from the city center the airport is has been undergoing major changes with the upgrading of terminals 1 and 2, and the renovation of terminal 3, andthe building of a fourth terminal. A third runway is currently under construction and a fourth one planned for opening in 2025. The airport is the eighth busiest in the world and while in 2012 it was handling 64 flights per hour, by the end of this year it anticipates handling 85 flights per hour. Last year the airport dealt with over 65 million passengers and was served by over 40 different airlines.