Soekarno-Hatta Airport Evaluates Policy After There Is A Density Of Prospective Passengers

JAKARTA - The Soekarno Hatta Airport Manager has made a new policy regarding the passenger queuing system, limiting flight frequency and the number of passengers on each flight only 50 percent of the aircraft seat capacity. This rule starts today.

"We have evaluated and then implemented a new policy. This morning, May 15, 2020, the departure process for passengers on domestic routes went smoothly at Soekarno-Hatta, both in Terminals 2 and 3," said President Director of PT Angkasa Pura II Muhammad. Awaluddin told reporters on Friday, May 15.

This effort is made to ensure the creation of physical distancing for prospective passengers when processing domestic route departures amidst the implementation of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB).

From now on, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the passenger queue system at Terminal 2 is divided into 4 posts. The first post is verification of prospective passenger documents which is carried out on the curb side or near the entrance to the terminal building.

Then, the second post in the terminal building is a place where prospective passengers fill out a Health Alert Card (HAC) and epidemiological forms, as well as body temperature measurements.

At the first checkpoint (SCP I), prospective passengers verify health certificates and undergo medical tests by Port Health Office personnel. Then, go to the check-in counter to verify all documents and process the check-in.

"Through this new queuing system, the flow of passengers this morning was very smooth when processing domestic departures at Terminal 2. In general, domestic departure procedures are also carried out at Terminal 3, only adjustments are made according to the shape of the terminal," he said.

Moreover, the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 has issued Circular Letter Number 4 of 2020 concerning Criteria for Restricting Travel of People in the Context of Accelerating Handling of COVID-19.

The circular states that each prospective airplane passenger must meet the requirements for document documents before being allowed to fly, such as official certificates, COVID-19 free health certificates, and others. So that there is no more congestion in filing, a new policy is evaluated.

Soetta Airport managers and aviation stakeholders have agreed that the slot is only 5 to 7 flights per hour at Terminal 2 so that it doesn't accumulate too much at certain hours.

If accumulated, during the reopening of air transportation services during the corona virus pandemic, there were around 200 flights at Soekarno-Hatta Airport every day.

Stakeholders also agreed that the airline would only carry passengers no more than 50 percent of the total seat capacity of the aircraft. The capacity regulation here is contained in the Regulation of the Minister of Transportation Number PM 18 of 2020 concerning Control of Transportation in the Context of Preventing the Spread of COVID-19.

"The limitation of flight slots per hour and a maximum of 50% of the number of passengers carried on each flight is vital in maintaining smoothness and physical distancing during the departure process," Awaludin said.

As is well known, the Senior Manager of Branch Communication and Legal of Soetta Airport, Febri Toga Simatupang, confirmed the buildup of prospective passengers. This happened at Terminal 2 Gate 4 of Soekarno Hatta Airport at around 04.00 WIB, Thursday, May 14.

The queue for prospective passengers occurred because there was an examination of three documents, namely flight tickets, official certificates and COVID-19 free certificates before flying to the destination city. If the prospective passengers meet these three requirements, the officer will invite them to participate in the pilot.

"Yes, it is true (queues). There is special treatment prior to this departure because at least the passenger must fulfill three important documents," said Febri to VOI.

The build-up of queues is claimed to have occurred not too long. In less than an hour, conditions at the document inspection site returned to normal. This means that prospective passengers come and go quickly so that the buildup of queues unravels in no time.

"The queue at the document verification post started at 04.00 WIB, where prospective passengers had plane tickets for flights between 06.00 - 08.00 WIB," said Febri.