18 Dec 2024
Mangupura, December 18, 2024 — PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, has officially launched an integrated monitoring post for the 2024/2025 Christmas and New Year holiday season (Nataru) on Wednesday (Dec 18). The service post will operate 24 hours a day for 19 consecutive days, from December 18, 2024, to January 5, 2025, located at the domestic arrivals terminal.
In addition to Angkasa Pura Indonesia, the 2024/2025 Nataru service post is supported by all relevant agencies at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, including the Airport Authority Office Region IV, Denpasar Health Quarantine Office (BBKK), Ngurah Rai Airport Police, Indonesian Air Force, Basarnas, and BMKG. To manage traffic flow to and from the airport, an additional post is stationed at the international terminal loading dock, staffed by Airport Police, Air Force personnel, traditional pecalang, and airport operations officers.
General Manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, stated that as a leading tourist destination, Bali typically sees a surge of visitors during the Christmas and New Year holiday season. “Our service focus is based on the company’s pillars: Premises, referring to infrastructure and facility readiness; People, meaning airport personnel preparedness; and Process, which highlights inter-agency collaboration to ensure smooth Nataru operations,” he explained.
“For this year’s holiday period, we project that the airport will serve 1.3 million passengers. Compared to last year’s Nataru, this represents a 10 percent increase. Aircraft traffic is also projected to reach 7,800 movements, up nearly 4 percent. To ensure smooth, safe, and secure operations, more than 1,300 personnel will be deployed throughout the season,” Syaugi added.
With an estimated 1.3 million passengers, the airport is expected to handle nearly 70,000 passenger movements per day during the Nataru post period—an 8 percent increase compared to the January–November daily average of 65,000 passengers. Aircraft movements are also forecasted to reach 413 per day during the holiday season, 7 percent higher than this year’s daily average of 387.
At the service post opening, Syaugi highlighted traffic peak predictions: December 20, 2024, is expected to mark the Christmas peak with 489 aircraft movements and 83,635 passengers; December 26, 2024, is projected as the post-Christmas peak with 452 movements and 81,000 passengers. Meanwhile, the New Year’s peak is expected on December 29, 2024, with 503 aircraft movements and 80,766 passengers. The return flow peak is forecasted on January 2, 2025, with 467 aircraft movements and around 79,957 passengers.
Passenger and aircraft growth projections are based on historical Nataru trends and additional flight requests. “As of today, we have received 449 requests for extra flights from seven airlines: 122 from Indonesia AirAsia, 88 from Super Air Jet, 87 from Lion Air, 82 from Citilink, 30 from Garuda Indonesia, 22 from Nam Air, and 18 from Pelita Air,” Syaugi explained.
All additional flights will serve domestic routes, with the highest frequency being Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta) at 265 flights, followed by Surabaya with 76, Makassar with 38, Lombok with 22, Pontianak with 12, and Banjarmasin with 8.
In anticipation of the Nataru season coinciding with the rainy season, the airport has coordinated with relevant stakeholders and prepared mitigation measures to ensure flight operations and passenger services remain uninterrupted, while also ensuring all agencies are prepared to respond to potential weather disruptions.
“We continuously ensure that all infrastructure and facilities at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport are in optimal condition, including runway skid resistance, visual aids for flight safety, and electrical systems. We also carry out intensive inspections and maintenance of airport facilities, especially in the airside area, while ensuring that all drainage systems are functioning properly,” Syaugi noted.
I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport management hopes this year’s peak Christmas and New Year travel season will run safely and smoothly. Strong collaboration and support from all stakeholders are essential to ensure seamless airport services and operations.
