Minister Of Transportation Budi Karya Instructs Aviation Sector To Tighten Health Protocols And Check Airplanes Ahead Of Christmas And New Year

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi has instructed all stakeholders in the aviation sector to tighten health protocols and carry out a ramp check at airports for the 2021 Christmas and 2022 New Year holidays.

In a review activity at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, the Minister of Transportation said that currently, the movement of aircraft and passengers per day continues to increase.

"During the Christmas and New Year holidays, there is a tendency for the number of passengers to increase," said Budi Karya in his statement, quoted from Antara, Sunday, December 12.

Budi Karya said that currently there are 700 take-off and landing aircraft movements per day and around 4,000 passengers have arrived from abroad.

The Minister of Transportation asked all stakeholders in the aviation sector, namely airport authorities, airport operators, airlines, flight navigation agencies, Customs and Excise, immigration, quarantine, the Ministry of Health's Port Health Office (KKP), Task Force, TNI, Polri, and other related elements, to ensure strict regulations. The process went well to prevent the spread and increase of COVID-19 cases after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

"Make sure those who depart have been vaccinated twice, brought negative results of antigen tests, use the PeduliLindung application, wear masks, keep their distance, and follow other health procedures," he said.

Regarding the anticipation of the increasing number of international arriving passengers, the Minister of Transportation said that it is necessary to anticipate adding quarantine places so that there will be no accumulation of passengers.

In addition to ensuring the tightening of procedures, the Minister of Transportation also instructed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to conduct massive ramp checks of aircraft at airports.

"The ramp check activity is one of the efforts to enforce safety. Because in transportation, the safety aspect is the main thing," he said.

On this occasion, the Minister of Transportation witnessed the ramp check process of one of the Airbus A330 aircraft bound for Bali, and it was declared airworthy.

Also present at the review, Director General of Civil Aviation Novie Riyanto, President Director of PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero) Muhammad Awaluddin, President Director of Airnav Indonesia Pramintohadi Sukarno, and a number of related officials.