There Is A Reason Why The Mandatory PCR Requirements For Boarding A Plane Are Very Burdensome For Passengers

Photo illustration (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Transportation observer Djoko Setidjowarno assesses that the mandatory PCR requirements are very burdensome for airplane passengers who will travel.

In addition to burdensome in terms of cost, service at the airport is not optimal. "This condition discourages people from traveling by air, especially in Java," he said when contacted in Jakarta, Saturday, October 23.

According to the lecturer at Unika Soegijapranata Semarang, Central Java, the mandatory requirement for PCR that consumers are reluctant to choose will certainly have an impact on the continued sluggishness of the airline business.

Consumers, especially in Java, will most likely prefer to travel by private vehicle or by train. Moreover, the Trans Java Toll Road is now more comfortable to use.

"In Java, if you don't bring your own car because the toll roads are already good, people will choose to take the train. The (premium) plane-class train is also selling well," he said.

Djoko, who is also the Head of the Advocacy and Community Division of the Central Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI), also asked the airport to improve services according to the flight requirements that have been determined.

For example, regarding the test rules, the airport is considered not ready to prepare test facilities to make it easier for passengers.

"To be honest, the service at the airport is not clear. At the station, for departure at 6 am, the test service has been opened an hour before. At the airport it is not clear. makes consumers lazy and reluctant to travel (by plane)," he said.

Not to mention the unequal test fees in Java and outside Java, even though the government has set the highest prices at IDR 495 thousand and IDR 525 thousand.

"Outside of Java, it's IDR 495,000, no matter how many hours, it's all the same. But in Java, IDR 495 thousand for 24-hour results. If you ask for 12 hours, the price is up to IDR 750 thousand," he said.

Djoko also considered that the PCR obligation for airplane passengers should be abolished. If this can be done, he believes the air transportation business can improve again.

"If you want to improve the air business, just get rid of it (the PCR requirement) or be paid by the government. After all, the prices are different. Even in some places the results are also offered. PCR tests are also not available in all places," he concluded.

In the latest regulations, a certificate of negative RT-PCR results a maximum of 2x24 hours is used as a requirement before travel departures from and to the Java-Bali region as well as in areas that fall into the PPKM level 3 and 4 categories.

For outside Java-Bali, this requirement is also set for regions with PPKM level 1 and 2 categories, but the antigen test is still valid with a duration of 1x24 hours. Previously, flight operators could use an antigen test 1x24 hours on condition that prospective passengers had been fully vaccinated.