Open The Jakarta-Wuhan Flight, Lion Air: It's Only A Charter Airplane, The Ministry Of Transportation Has Provided Permission

Lion Air aircraft. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Lion Air spoke about the service for the international flight route from Jakarta to Wuhan, China, which was opened some time ago. Lion Air emphasized that the flight was not a scheduled international flight (regular flight) but a lease or charter.

"The purpose of charter flights is to serve flights for the purpose of transportation and the interests of the company's work," said Corporate Communications Strategic of Lion Air, Danang Mandala Prihantoro, in a written statement, as quoted on Friday, May 7.

Danang explained that the charter flights run by Lion Air have met the requirements for air travel documents, medical tests, and medical documents while continuing to carry out the quarantine process according to applicable regulations.

"Charter flights for special passengers in a group (not public passengers) operated by Lion Air have met the flight requirements and obtained flight approval on April 18-19, 2021 from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transportation," he explained.

Provisions for international flights for the period 09 February 2021 until further notice, in accordance with Circular Number 21 of 2021 of the Ministry of Transportation concerning Guidelines for International Travel by Air Transportation during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic. Then, in accordance with Circular Number 8 of 2021 the Task Force for Handling COVID-19 concerning the International Travel Health Protocol during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.

All passengers, said Danang, have met immigration requirements such as documents that serve as proof of permission for a person to enter a country (VISA), Permanent Stay Permit Card (KITAP), Limited Stay Permit Card (KITAS), and have health documents in the form of PCR test results / SWAB with negative results, following health quarantine and having conducted two negative PCR Test results.

"Lion Air continues to implement all applicable flight provisions during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic alert period. This is in accordance with regulatory recommendations from regulators as well as Lion Air Group's commitment to operating which continues to prioritize safety, security, and flight comfort factors. first) and carried out according to the health protocol guidelines and in efforts to control COVID-19 in Indonesia, "he said.

Previously, Lion Air had served international flight routes from Jakarta to Wuhan, China. Reporting from Antara, Saturday, May 1, the flight route is served by Lion Air using a Boeing 737-900 aircraft.

The plane with flight number JT-2619 departs from Jakarta at 06:20 western Indonesia time and arrives in Wuhan at 12:25 western Indonesia time. Furthermore, the plane changed its flight number to JT-2618, then returned from Wuhan at 15:10 local time or around 14.10 western Indonesia time and arrived at 20:20 western Indonesia time.

The opening of this international flight route received the spotlight from a member of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction Guspardi Gaus. He regretted the policy. This is because the arrival of citizens from abroad still has a potential risk of spreading COVID-19. Moreover, this case first appeared in Wuhan, China.

"The government has shown an inconsistent attitude by allowing foreign nationals to enter Indonesia while at home we are struggling to block and break the chain of the spread of the coronavirus. Plus now the trend of cases of the spread of COVID-19 is rising," he told reporters, Wednesday, 5 May.