Jakarta - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Indonesia) has spoken out regarding the sharp spike in airfares at Rembele Airport in Bener Meriah Regency, Aceh, where ticket prices reportedly reached up to Rp8 million for the Bener Meriah–Banda Aceh route during the recent floods and landslides affecting Aceh Tenggara, Aceh Tengah, and Bener Meriah.

Kadin Indonesia’s Deputy Chair for Social Affairs and Disaster Management, Suryani Motik, stressed that businesses must not exploit emergency situations for excessive profit.

“We are businesspeople, yes, we earn money, but we must not take advantage of people’s suffering. Prices must remain fair,” Suryani said.

She emphasized that businesses, including airlines, should demonstrate solidarity. She noted that many companies have made efforts to help with community mobilization during disasters, and such actions should serve as an example.

“From a fellow business perspective—especially since I work in social affairs and disaster management—this is a matter of concern for me,” she added.

Suryani further acknowledged that business operations inevitably continue during emergencies, but firmly underscored that reasonable boundaries must be upheld.

“Business must go on, even in a disaster, but that doesn’t justify going overboard,” she said.

She also urged the government to intervene promptly to regulate ticket pricing mechanisms and prevent practices that disadvantage the public during emergencies.

“The government must regulate this. It cannot be left unchecked. There must be upper and lower fare limits. During a disaster, what is the ceiling fare, what is the floor fare this must be clearly regulated to ensure fairness. No fear, no justice,” Suryani asserted.

Meanwhile, Chair of Kadin Aceh Province, Muhammad Iqbal Piyeung, stated that the government must ensure that aviation policies during disaster periods do not worsen the hardship faced by affected communities.

“We call on the Minister of Transportation to immediately review airline pricing policies on disaster-affected routes. In emergency situations, the public should not be burdened with irrational fares. The state must ensure that humanitarian access remains smooth and affordable,” he stressed.

Iqbal also highlighted the need for rapid coordination among the Ministry of Transportation, airlines, airport authorities, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and local governments in managing flights within disaster zones. Kadin Aceh believes a specific emergency fare mechanism is necessary, including:

1. Setting special upper fare limits for disaster-affected regions

2. Providing priority slots for relief and volunteer flights

3. Introducing air transport subsidy schemes for affected communities

4. Ensuring transparency in fare structures during emergency response periods

In addition, Kadin Aceh urged the central government to tighten oversight of pricing patterns on travel agency systems and ticketing platforms to prevent unreasonable fare increases amid urgent public needs.

“This is not merely a business issue. This is about humanity, and air access is often the only stable route when roads are cut off or blocked by landslides,” Iqbal added.

“We all hope that the distribution of essential goods, medicines, and logistical aid continues to run effectively throughout the disaster period,” he concluded.