Garuda Indonesia Boss Joy Sees PPKM Java-Bali Level Down: There Are Already Signs Of Increasing Passengers

JAKARTA - The government has lowered the level of implementation of restrictions on community activities (PPKM) in several areas of Java and Bali including Jabodetabek from level 4 to 3. President Director of PT Garuda Indonesia Irfan Setiaputra welcomed this. He believes this easing will increase passenger movement.

"There are already (signs of an increase in passengers)," he told VOI, Tuesday, August 24.

Furthermore, said Irfan, the increase was supported by the easing of travel requirements for those traveling by airplane.

As is known, in the previous PPKM level 4 rules, passengers on intra-Java and Bali air transportation must include a negative PCR test result. Meanwhile, those who have been vaccinated with the second dose can choose to test for COVID-19 with an antigen. While in the PPKM level 3 area, passengers can show an Antigen test document.

Irfan said that although the level reduction in certain areas in Java and Bali had been officially announced, Garuda had not been able to immediately make adjustments to flight conditions. He said the company was waiting for the new regulation from the Ministry of Transportation.

"It's still being monitored," he said.

Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) extended the PPKM in Java and Bali. But for the Jabodetabek agglomeration area and a number of regencies/cities, the PPKM level dropped to level 3.

"The government has decided that starting from August 24 to August 30, 2021, some regions can be lowered from level 4 to level 3. Java and Bali islands, the agglomeration areas of Greater Jakarta, Greater Bandung, Greater Surabaya and several other city/district areas can already be at level 3. starting on August 24," Jokowi said in the announcement of the PPKM extension via the Presidential Secretariat Youtube, Monday, August 23.

According to Jokowi, there has been quite good progress in handling COVID-19 in Java and Bali regarding the PPKM level.

"There is a fairly good development at level 4 from 67 regencies/cities to 51 regencies/cities. Level 3 from 59 regencies/cities to 67 regencies/cities. Level 2 from 2 regencies/cities to 10 regencies/cities," continued Jokowi.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan said a number of agglomeration areas were still implementing level 4 PPKM.

"Specifically for the agglomerations of Bali, Malang Raya, Solo Raya, and DIY, they are currently at level 4. But from the data we have it will soon enter level 3 some time in the future with continuous improvements in handling COVID," said Coordinating Minister Luhut at a press conference held the Presidential Secretariat's Youtube, Monday, August 23.

Luhut explained that in the level 4 evaluation, the government included a mortality indicator that was previously withdrawn due to data processing.