ER
CURRENT flight protocols that require physical distancing in aircraft are considered burdensome for airlines. Not to mention the obligation of each passenger to include a COVID-19 free letter through the swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
According to President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Irfan Setiaputra said we propose that the conditions for people who want to use air transportation services in the new normal era are enough to include a COVID-19 free certificate based on rapid test results only.
“Rapid tests have also been deemed sufficient to be a condition for prospective passengers to be able to travel. We hope that the protocol will be simplified by simply requiring passengers to conduct a rapid test before the flight,” he said.
Irfan added, this service could be provided by the airline so that passengers do not have to bother looking for places to check which are still difficult to obtain. I also hope that the Ministry of Transportation and the Task Force will issue a new (normal) policy (regulation) that will allow us to be more relaxed in making future flights.
“The cost of testing COVID-19 with the PCR-based swab test method is not cheap. PCR tests and Rapid Tests are considered more expensive than flight ticket prices. This could have an impact on people’s interest in using air transportation, which has already fallen due to corona,” he noted.
He explained, prospective passengers need to spend IDR1.8 million to IDR2.5 million for a single PCR test and Rapid Test for IDR300 thousand to IDR500 thousand. The price is considered far more expensive than the price of plane tickets purchased by potential passengers themselves.
“Actually I am not complaining, hoping the price of PCR goes down, lest the price of information that shows you are healthy is more expensive than the price of flying. So it will not burden our friends who want to fly,” Irfan said.
In accordance with the Task Force Circular Letter 5 of 2020, the community was given the choice to use a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, rapid test or an influenza symptom-free certificate if PCR facilities and rapid tests were not available in their area.
According to him, not all regions have PCR tools. With these limitations, people who need aviation transportation services will find it difficult to meet the necessary conditions. PCR is not available everywhere, rapid tests are not available everywhere.
Therefore Irfan said that Garuda Indonesia plans to prepare COVID-19 rapid tests for passengers who will be flying. Philosophically, people who get on the plane are healthy, so we filter and the Task Force also requires people not to travel if they don’t have a rapid test.
In welcoming the new normal order, Garuda is also preparing a new service protocol. Such as the use of face shields and masks by cabin crew and increased sterilization of cutlery in the cabin.
“In the future, drinks on board will only be provided in sealed bottles to avoid the use of glass and other food containers. In addition, there are no more readings in physical form such as brochures, magazines, and newspapers on the plane. In its place, reading will be provided in digital form. This effort is one way to avoid COVID-19 transmission to passengers,” he concluded.
He stressed that from the Garuda side thought to look for a face shield, if you wear a mask is not found out by people talking or not, smile or not. This is about interaction. Garuda will also make changes to the passenger seats and be given a distance. We agree with the distance, we will empty the middle seat. If the community is not safe, the distance will be, but by riding Garuda, everyone feels business class. [sources/photo traveltext]
