Batik Air Forbidden To Fly To Pontianak, INACA: Not Relevant!

Illustrated by Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji has banned Batik Air from flying to Pontianak for 10 days starting Thursday, December 24.

This is because the West Kalimantan COVID-19 Task Force suspects that there are five passengers carrying fake letters resulting from a swab test that show negative information.

In response to this, the Chairman of the National Aviation Association INACA Denon thought that Sutarmidji should not impose a flight ban. Because, according to him, the responsibility for health checks lies with the Ministry of Health.

"Airlines and airports do not have responsibility for checking prospective passengers on their health status and COVID-19, KKP officers under the Ministry of Health are responsible for these procedures," Denon said in his statement, Sunday, December 27.

Moreover, according to Denon, flight permits and airline restrictions to an area are the authority of the Ministry of Transportation. Therefore, Denon asked the central government to step in to solve the problem.

"We ask the central government to consider the attitude of the regional government because we think the sanctions are irrelevant and unfair for us as flight operators and airport operators," he said.

It is known, the Governor of West Kalimantan Sutarmidji explained that some time ago the West Kalimantan COVID-19 Task Force conducted a random swab test for airplane passengers entering Pontianak.

Of the total 20 people who had the swab, 5 Batik Air passengers tested positive for COVID-19. "The indication is that the certificate they brought was fake," said Sutarmidji on his official Facebook page, Bang Midji.

Sutarmidji admitted that he had coordinated with Angkasa Pura to the airport KKP. However, everything is out of responsibility. Therefore, Sutarmidji prohibited Batik Air from entering Pontianak for 10 days.

"The Director General of Civil Aviation (if) wants to protest and get angry, go ahead. That means they coordinate poorly with Angkasa Pura and the KKP. As the Head of the Task Force I will be strict (for those) entering West Kalimantan. Until January 8, 2021, it must be with a COVID-free letter. -19 through the PCR swab test, "he explained.

"We are sorry if there are any discomfort or displeasure with the Decision of the West Kalimantan COVID-19 Task Force. Remember, when a violation is always tolerated, then one day it will become a big problem because the violation is not considered a violation anymore," he continued.