TransJakarta’s standard bus fare is 3,500 rupiah; private helicopter charters in Jakarta start at about 32 million rupiah an hour. That steep gap sits at the center of Governor Pramono Anung’s proposal to expand the public bus operator into boat services and, eventually, air transport.
Who Can Afford to Fly
TransJakarta carried 329.2 million passenger journeys in the first nine months of 2026. The Jakarta provincial administration projected 438.5 million for the full year. Proposed changes to the company’s governing regulations would allow it to operate sea and air transport, and raise its authorised capital from 5.225 trillion rupiah to 13.4 trillion rupiah.
Speaking to reporters on Oct 4, Pramono said Jakarta has 11 million residents and the wider metropolitan area has 42 million. “It is inconceivable for a metropolitan area of this size not to have air transport,” he said. Air services form part of the city’s medium- to long-term plans, but Pramono hasn’t specified what aircraft the operator might use. He cited helicopters as one possibility. Jakarta, he said, should establish rules and permits before such services become necessary.
Private helicopter services already operate in Jakarta. Whitesky Aviation offers charters and city transfers, with smaller helicopter rates starting at about 32 million rupiah an hour, its chief commercial officer Ari Nurwanda told local news website Detikcom in August 2025.
Doddy, a 45-year-old roadside seller of gorengan, or fried snacks, laughed at the idea of flying above the capital. “Of course, I would love to see Jakarta from above. Everyone down below will look like tiny ants, right?” he said. Then he added: “I do not think someone like me would ever get the chance to ride in a helicopter. Maybe the only things of mine that will ever fly are my fried banana and tapioca – as an in-flight snack!”
Aisah, a 38-year-old administrative worker, welcomed the prospect of avoiding peak-hour rushes. “No more rushing during peak hours? That would be wow,” she told The Straits Times. “TransJakarta already has an efficient bus network, so expanding its services to the air and sea could be a good next step,” she added.
Sheila, a 28-year-old marketing executive, questioned the price and capacity. “It would certainly be a glamorous way to get to work. But how many passengers can a helicopter carry, and how much would a ticket cost? Surely, it cannot be the same cheap fare we pay for a TransJakarta bus ride.”
Public Money, Public Fares
Deddy Herlambang, a senior researcher at Strategic Transport Initiatives (INSTRAN), said helicopters don’t make financial sense as mass transport. “It makes no sense to use helicopters as mass public transport, like public minibuses, because large helicopters are extremely expensive,” he told The Straits Times. “The money would be better spent purchasing more TransJakarta non-BRT buses,” he said. These buses travel on ordinary roads, not dedicated bus lanes, and extend the network beyond its main corridors.
The Jakarta Legislative Council considered the proposal at an Oct 7 plenary session. Lawmakers from several political parties questioned the cost and whether TransJakarta should move beyond bus services. “The public should not have to pay for this expansion through higher fares or reduced services within the city,” legislator Francine Widjojo said.
Deddy said the regional budget could cover expansion into sea transport, but low fares would require subsidies. He suggested an affordable fare range of 25,000 rupiah to 50,000 rupiah.
Island Service and State Plans
TransJakarta is due to take over public boat services to the Thousand Islands, off Jakarta’s northern coast, by June 2027. Pramono said the operator could run the services more efficiently and cheaply. “Fares will certainly be cheaper if the services are managed professionally, as TransJakarta is doing now,” he said.
On Aug 22, TransJakarta president director Welfizon Yuza joined Jakarta transport officials on a visit to the islands. They inspected piers and reviewed the ferry fleet. “We fully understand the high expectations of the people of the Thousand Islands. This directive from the Governor is a responsibility entrusted to us to bridge the distance and ensure equal rights for all Jakarta residents,” Welfizon said in an Aug 23 company statement.
TransJakarta said the takeover should make island travel easier and support local businesses and tourism. The city is also considering setting up a subsidiary to run the boats. The expansion would put public capital, fares and subsidies at the heart of decisions about who can use the service and what it costs.
Aviation authorities across the Asia-Pacific are preparing for electric flying taxis, but Jakarta hasn’t announced plans to use them. In July 2025, civil aviation authorities from 24 Asia-Pacific states and administrations, including Indonesia and Singapore, jointly developed reference materials to help regulate commercial air-taxi and drone operations.