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CLOSING flights from Indonesia to Hong Kong is a natural thing that must be respected and addressed wisely in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
According to the Director General of Civil Aviation at the Ministry of Transportation, Novie Riyanto, Saturday (6/26) emphasized that each country has different rights and anticipatory steps in protecting its citizens, one of which is by closing flights to and from other countries that have the highest cases of COVID-19 spread.
Novie explained that Indonesia had previously taken anticipatory steps to protect the entry of foreign nationals who were experiencing an outbreak in their country.
“Indonesia has taken the attitude of prohibiting the entry of citizens from or transiting the UK to Indonesia, as well as Indian citizens. So, the ban on flying from Indonesia to Hong Kong is a natural thing,” he explained.
However, Novie continues to urge all airlines, both national and international, to always comply with applicable regulations, and ensure that prospective passengers have a health certificate.
The letter must have been validated by the Port Health Office (PHO) at the airport, as regulated by the duties and functions of the PHO at the airport through the Minister of Health Regulation Number 77 of 2020 concerning the Organization and Work Procedure of the Port Health Office.
He acknowledged that the authority to validate the health documents of prospective passengers’ rests with the Port Health Office in this case the Ministry of Health, so it is not the authority of the airline. So far, the task of airlines is to transport passengers who already have a health certificate that has been validated by the Port Health Office.
“However, in the midst of this pandemic, we urge all airlines to be able to re-check health certificates and observe whether prospective passengers show symptoms such as fever, cough, flu and other symptoms so that treatment can be carried out according to the applicable SOP,” he said.
To note, airlines that violate the applicable provisions may be given administrative sanctions ranging from written warnings, suspension of permits, revocation of permits and or administrative fines in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Transportation Number PM 41 of 2020 concerning Amendments to Transportation Ministry Regulation Number 18 of 2020 concerning Internal Transportation Control Framework for the Prevention of the Spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). [antaranews/photo special]
