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THE INDONESIAN government has decided to reopen international flights at four airports in line with the positive developments of the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Indonesia, said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.
“One thing we still have to improve is the international flight capacity which is still far from normal. For that, the government will take steps, including opening international airports, including Yogyakarta, Medan, Makassar and Pekanbaru,” Luhut said at a press conference. virtual post-limited meeting related to the evaluation of the implementation of restrictions on community activities (PPKM) with President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Monday (4/04).
Along with the reopening of international flights at the four airports, he added, the government also relaxed its visa policy to get closer to the rules before the COVID-19 pandemic. The government will also relax the rules and test points for foreign travelers (PPLN).
“So, the number of incoming flights can increase without causing a buildup at the airport. A detailed explanation of the travel policy will be stated in the latest circular letter that will be issued by the COVID-19 Task Force,” he said.
Previously, based on the SE Task Force COVID-19 dated March 23, 2022, there were seven airports open for international flights, namely Soekarno-Hatta, Juanda (East Java), Ngurah Rai (Bali), Hang Nadim (Riau Islands), Raja Haji Fisabilillah (Riau Islands), Sam Ratulangi (North Sulawesi), and Zainuddin Abdul Madjid (West Nusa Tenggara).
The addition of four airports that are open to international flights cannot be separated from the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, where the daily transmission case rate fell by 97% compared to the peak phase of transmission of the Omicron variant.
Luhut said active cases of COVID-19 nationally have now fallen to 83% and are below 100,000 active cases. [antaranews/photo special]
