Understanding the Potential of Airport Bus Services for Public Transport: A Case Study of Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport in Malang City

The absence of direct public transportation to Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport, Malang, has resulted in a high dependence on private vehicles and airport taxis. This study evaluates the feasibility of introducing an airport bus service, addressing a research gap in this context. A survey of 70 airport passengers was conducted to analyze their travel preferences, socio-economic characteristics, and willingness to shift to bus services. The findings indicate that passengers’ choices are significantly influenced by fare levels and service frequency. At lower fares, respondents exhibit a more balanced preference between taxis and buses, whereas higher fares lead to a substantial shift toward bus services. Specifically, fare categories of IDR 126,000 (USD 7.63) with five daily trips and IDR 160,000 (USD 9.69) with six daily trips show a predominant preference for bus services. Additionally, Goodness-of-Fit analysis confirms the robustness of the applied model, demonstrating a strong correlation between the observed data and the predicted preferences. The results highlight that strategic fare structuring and optimal service frequency are crucial to promoting airport bus usage. The study also emphasizes the necessity of setting competitive fares, with an ideal range of IDR 10,000 (USD 0.61) to IDR 15,000 (USD 0.91), to enhance the attractiveness of public transport. Implementing an airport bus service has the potential to increase public transport accessibility, reduce private vehicle dependency, and support sustainable urban mobility. The success of this initiative will require collaboration between local government and transport authorities, along with public awareness campaigns to promote the benefits of public transport, such as reduced traffic congestion and lower environmental impact in Malang.