Banda Aceh – The Aceh Provincial Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Aceh) has expressed deep concern over the sharp increase in airfare at Rembele Airport in Bener Meriah Regency, where ticket prices for the Bener Meriah–Banda Aceh route reportedly soared to Rp8,000,000 during the recent floods and landslides that struck Aceh Tenggara, Aceh Tengah, and Bener Meriah.

The situation unfolded amid a state of emergency in which thousands of residents affected by the disaster urgently required mobility, evacuation, and rapid delivery of logistical support. In times of crisis, excessively high airfares not only burden affected communities but also risk disrupting humanitarian efforts, including the movement of volunteers, medical personnel, and aid distribution.

Chairman of Kadin Aceh, Muhammad Iqbal Piyeung, stated that the government must ensure that aviation policies during disaster periods do not worsen the suffering of affected populations.

“We urge the Minister of Transportation to immediately review airline pricing policies on disaster-affected routes. In emergency situations, the public must not be burdened with irrational fares. The state must ensure that humanitarian access remains smooth and affordable,” he said on Wednesday (03/12/2025).

Iqbal also underscored the importance of swift coordination between the Ministry of Transportation, airlines, airport authorities, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and local governments in managing flights within disaster zones. Kadin Aceh stressed the need for a dedicated emergency fare mechanism, including:

1. Special upper fare limits for disaster-affected regions

2. Priority slots for relief and volunteer flights

3. Air transport subsidy schemes for affected communities

4. Transparency in fare structures throughout the emergency response period

Kadin Aceh also called on the central government to strengthen oversight of pricing patterns on travel agency systems and ticketing platforms to prevent unreasonable fare practices amid urgent public needs.

“This is not merely a business matter. This is a humanitarian issue, and air transportation is the only stable access point 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 during this disaster,” he concluded.