Regarding Jetstar Turning To Australia, Sandiaga Uno: Airlines Must Be Orderly To Obey Applicable Rules

Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno appealed to all national and international airlines to always comply with procedures and regulations in accordance with applicable laws.

This needs to be done to ensure mutual safety, especially for tourists.

Sandiaga said this was due to an internal miscommunication at the head office of Jetstar Melbourne.

As is known, the JQ35 flight from Melbourne to Denpasar on December 27 was decided to return to base. This is because the plane departed without the flight approval or flight approval needed to arrive in Denpasar, Bali.

"Currently, Jetstar is conducting a thorough review of the incident and will implement procedures to prevent this from happening again," Sandiaga said in a press statement, quoted on Wednesday, January 4.

"The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy also reminded airlines to follow the applicable procedures and rules in an orderly manner. Regulations must be enforced for the sake of mutual safety," he continued.

If all applicable procedures and regulations are obeyed by all airlines, in the future it will greatly assist the performance target of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy in reaching 3.5-7.4 million foreign tourists (tourists) in 2023 and 1.2-1.4 billion in the movement of domestic tourists.

"Bali as one of the leading destinations in Indonesia is expected to support this target with four million foreign tourists visiting in 2023," said Sandiaga.

He also appreciated the performance of the International Airport authority I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Bali, for providing excellent service to foreign tourists visiting Indonesia throughout 2022.

Previously, General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Bali Handy Heryudhitiawan said the incident of the Jetstar Airways JQ035 plane that turned back to Melbourne occurred because it did not meet the requirements to land in Bali.

"Coordination with Jetstar management, the solution is that some passengers are diverted to Virgin Australia and Qantas flights that night, some of whom spend the night at the hotel with Jetstar dependents," Handy said in a written statement, Thursday, December 29.

Jetstar Airways flew the plane from Melbourne as extra flight JQ1035 on December 28. Overall, Jetstar Airways has flown seven scheduled flights to Bali from various cities in Australia.

"We hope that in the future flights carried out by airlines can be ensured to have met the existing requirements and procedures and ensure coordination with airport managers, if there is irregularity," he said.