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STATE-owned airport management company, PT Angkasa Pura I (AP I), is allocating slots for flights to space out flight departures and manage passenger density at airports in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to president director of Angkasa Pura I, Faik Fahmi, in a virtual press conference in Jakarta on Friday (15/5) said AP I is coordinating with airlines to predict the number of passengers expected to come in. We are arranging the flight slots so flights do not come too close together and (air traffic does) not pile up.
He explained that the arrangement has been enforced as passengers would need to queue up to have their documents verified before they can be allowed to fly. Considering there are a number of documents that need to be checked, Fahmi said, the validation process could take longer.
“In terms of frequency of flights, there are no flights within the same hour, two to three of the same flights, to avoid piling up and to reduce the possibility of social distancing not being carried out,” he said, explaining how the flight slots are being allocated.
AP I is coordinating with all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient Human Resources (HR) and facilities available. A number of airports have also modified their operational hours to adapt to reduced flight mobility.
“The airport is still operating as logistics are still running. We have adjusted (to the COVID-19 pandemic) by downsizing the airport, limiting the operational hours from the previously round-the-clock operations. We have also reduced the area of operations, for example, by closing Terminal 1, while previously both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 were operating,” Fahmi continued.
In principle, he said, his office is adjusting the needs of the service level, in accordance with the Ministry of Transportation’s standards, stipulated in Ministerial Regulation Number 25 of 2020 on Transportation Control During Eid Homecoming 1441 H In the Effort to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19.
He added that I am is ensuring that health protocols are enforced at airports through spraying of disinfectants, body temperature scans, and other measures. [antaranews]
