Government Bans Eid Al-Fitr 2021, Garuda Indonesia Frees Flight Reschedule Fee

Garuda Indonesia aircraft. (Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - The national airline, PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk fully supports government policies related to transportation control during the Eid al-Fitr 2021 ban period that is valid from May 6 to 17, 2021. Thus, Garuda ensures the availability of air connectivity for people who fall into the category of excluded from the provisions of the homecoming ban.

President Director of Garuda Indonesia Irfan Setiaputra said that his party as a national flag carrier is committed to play an active role in efforts to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. One of them is by paying attention to the terms and conditions that apply during the period of homecoming ban.

Irfan said, Garuda Indonesia is also committed to continue to be present to support the fulfillment of logistics distribution needs that are projected to increase significantly ahead of the upcoming Eid al-Fitr celebrations.

"Where the preference of the needs of the community in sending goods as a means of friendship will be increasing, one of which we will optimize through the service Send Aja and cargo flights," he said in a written statement received VOI, Friday, April 9.

Furthermore, Irfan said Garuda Indonesia is also currently preparing anticipatory measures related to the operational policy of flight services to support the implementation of the Eid al-Fitr transportation control policy.

The policies referred to include adjusting the frequency and schedule of flights as needed, adjustment of operational policies on the line of pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight services before, during, and after the homecoming prohibition period.

Then, said Irfan, optimization of cargo flight services to support the distribution of logistics, and various anticipatory policies in other operational areas.

"To ensure that the various adjustment measures run optimally, Garuda Indonesia continues to coordinate intensively with other airport service stakeholders. We will continue to monitor passenger traffic ahead of the implementation of this transportation control policy, to ensure the operation of flight services can continue smoothly," he explained.

Free reschedule fee

Irfan said, to support the transportation control efforts launched by the government, Garuda also encouraged people who have planned the trip to coincide with the homecoming ban period, to be able to immediately make adjustments to the flight plan.

"Garuda Indonesia provides flexibility in the form of additional fee exemptions for people who make changes to flight plans, with reference to applicable regulations," he explained.

Irfan believes that national economic recovery efforts will not take place optimally without the government's decisive steps in accelerating the handling of pandemics that need to be supported by active community participation in order to minimize the risk of spread.

Therefore, said Irfan, it hopes that the provisions of the homecoming ban can be interpreted as an effort to prevent transmission and accelerate the wider recovery, in line with the momentum of national vaccination that has been implemented by the government since the beginning of 2021.