Lion Air Group Stops Flights To Papua, The Reason Is Because PPKM And Several Cities Have Not Been Able To Serve PCR Tests

Lion Air plane. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Lion Air Group has temporarily suspended its flights to a number of cities in Papua, namely Timika, Merauke, and Nabire due to the implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).

Lion Air Group Representative Head Jayapura Agung Setya Wibowo in Jayapura admitted that currently, only Batik Air serves the Jakarta-Jayapura route, while Lion Air has not flown since Tuesday, July 6.

In addition, Lion Group also operates Wings Air aircraft, which previously served Sentani-Nabire, Sentani-Dekai, and Sentani-Wamena.

However, currently, it only serves Sentani-Dekai and Sentani-Wamena by operating two aircraft, said Agung while admitting that the cessation of flight operations is scheduled until July 20, 2021.

"The cessation of operations to a number of cities in Papua is not only due to the implementation of PPKM, but also because a number of cities require passengers to be tested by PCR swabs and show the results, while several cities such as Merauke have not been able to serve them," said Agung Setyo Wibowo, quoted from Antara.

A spokesperson for the Merauke COVID-19 Prevention and Handling Task Force, dr. Neville Maskita when contacted from Jayapura admitted that the PCR swab test in Merauke was only to check patients who had COVID-19.

There is only one PCR in Merauke Hospital with a running capacity of only 94 samples per day and does not serve inspections for travelers, explained dr. Neville.