Lion Air Group Airlines At Ternate Airport Have Not Provided Certainty Of Operational Impact Of Mount Ruang Eruption

The Coordinator Of Pax Haldling Lion Air Ternate Branch, Alfian Hi Logah When Returning all ticket fees for prospective passengers/DOK ANTARA

TERNATE - Lion Air Group airlines have not been able to confirm when all aircraft from Ternate to Manado's Sam Ratulangi Airport, North Sulawesi, can operate following the eruption of Mount Ruangan in the Siau Tagulandang Biaro Islands Regency which has an impact on flight activities. The Coordinator of Pax Haldling Lion Air Ternate Branch, Alfian Hi Logah said, to this day, all flight activities of the Wings Air route Ternate-Manado PP or Ternate destination were not operated following the eruption of Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi. According to him, all flights from Ternate to Manado or vice versa from Manado to Ternate have not been operated and it is not yet certain when the airline will be operated for the Ternate-Manado route or vice versa. "It is true, due to the volcanic eruption in North Sulawesi, the aircraft serving the Ternate-Manado PP route is provided with Wings Air type ATR600 with a capacity of 72 passengers and ATR 72-600 with a capacity of 77 people unable to operate," Alfian told ANTARA, Friday, April 19. Therefore, the management immediately conveyed to all passengers to get to the Lion Air Group office to take the money according to the price of the ticket purchased, due to force majeure. According to him, currently there are three Wings Air aircraft serving flights from Ternate-Manado three times a day in the morning and evening, so that the management has submitted information to prospective passengers who will cancel their flights, so the management will return all ticket money that has been purchased by prospective passengers. Because, until now Lion Air management has not been able to confirm when the Wings Air aircraft will be operated for the Ternate-Manado route or vice versa. As is known, the eruption of Mount Ruang in Siau Islands Regency, Tagulandang Biaro, North Sulawesi (Sulut), had an impact on flight activities. The closure of Sam Ratulangi International Airport was extended, because volcanic ash still disturbs the airspace to this day, Friday (19/4) due to the eruption of Mount Ruang.

This condition has an impact on flight safety and security. Airport airport authorities have issued notifications regarding this condition. As is known, the airport, which is about 95 km from Mount Ruang, is still temporarily closed. The operation of Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado was temporarily closed due to the impact of Mount Ruang volcanic ash located in Sitaro Regency, North Sulawesi.