Lion Air Suspends Flights From Tarakan Starting May 6

Lion Air aircraft. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Lion Air has stopped flights from Tarakan, East Kalimantan, for passengers from May 6 to 17, 2021, due to the ban on Eid Al-Fitr 1442 Hijri homecoming.

"We have no commercial activities for passengers, only cargo services according to the regulations issued by the Task Force (COVID-19) and the Ministry of Transportation", said Lion Air Tarakan Branch Manager, Muhammad Arif, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, May 5.

Apart from cargo service flights, there is currently no aircraft charter from the company for the needs of its employees.

He said that on May 5, 2021, from Juwata Tarakan Airport there were six Lion Air flights with three flight routes, namely Surabaya, Makassar, and Jakarta.

Arif said that if there were no obstacles and new rules, it was possible that on May 18, 2021, there would only be commercial flights for passengers.

"If there are no obstacles, God willing, on May 18th there will be more flights, during the period May 6 - May 17, only cargo flights", he said.

Arif said this was not done to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The government has officially banned this year's Eid homecoming which takes effect from May 6 to 17, 2021.

This was announced in Circular Number 13 of 2021 from the Task Force for Handling COVID-19 concerning Elimination of the Idul Fitri 1442 Hijri Homecoming and Efforts to Control the Spread of COVID-19 During the Holy Month of Ramadan 1442 Hijri.

Then it was tightened by the issuance of an addendum to SE Number 13 of 2021. Tightening the requirements for Domestic Travel Actors (PPDN) 2 weeks before and a week after the elimination of homecoming, namely April 22-May 22, 2021 and May 18-24, 2021.