AirAsia and Batik Air are banned from flying to Pontianak, INACA: not fair for us

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Indonesian National Air Carriers Association (INACA) has opened its voice regarding the ban on flying to enter the Pontianak area which was sent by the West Kalimantan Provincial Government (Pemprov) to AirAsia and Batik Air.

INACA President Denon Prawiraatmadja assessed that the West Kalimantan provincial government’s decision to impose the ban due to the discovery of passengers identified as Covid-19 positive was irrelevant.

“We believe that sanctions are irrelevant and not fair for us as flight operators and airport operators, “Denon said in a written statement on Saturday (12/26/2020).

Also read: Due to 5 positive passengers with Covid-19, Batik Air is prohibited from flying for 10 days to Pontianak, these are the facts

Denon added that the airline has no responsibility for the health of potential passengers.

“KKP officials under the Ministry of Health are responsible for the procedure,” he said.

Denon therefore asked the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Health to review the decision of the Pontianak provincial government.

“Please allow the government to take action on the implementation of this,” he said.

Previously reported, the West Kalimantan Covid-19 Management Acceleration Task Force issued sanctions against Batik Air airline for carrying five Covid-19 positive passengers.

Also read: AirAsia offers rapid antigen test starting at IDR 150,000 for passengers

The sanctions imposed take the form of a 10-day flight ban from Jakarta to Pontianak.

After Batik Air, the West Kalimantan government also imposed a sanction to ban AirAsia airlines from flying due to Covid-19 positive passenger findings.

This ban on flying AirAsia to Pontianak applies from January 28 to January 6, 2021.