Ministry Of Transportation Issues New Airplane Passenger Regulations: Those Who Have Booster Vaccines Don't Need PCR/Antigen

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transportation has issued Circular Letter Number 36 of 2022 concerning Instructions for Domestic Travel by Air Transportation during the COVID-19 Pandemic which will take effect from April 5, 2022.

Director-General of Civil Aviation, Novie Riyanto, said the Circular Letter was issued as a follow-up to the 2022 domestic travel requirements issued by the COVID-19 Task Force through Circular Letter No. 16 of 2022.

"It is predicted that people's enthusiasm for traveling by plane will increase, given the tradition of going home for Eid", said Novie Riyanto as quoted by Antara, Monday, April 4.

The Ministry of Transportation asked people who will travel to use air transportation to study the latest requirements issued by the government.

There are also the regulated requirements are:

- Domestic travelers (PPDN) who have received the third or booster dose of vaccination, are not required to show a negative result of the RT-PCR test or rapid antigen test;

- PPDN that has received the second dose of vaccination must show a negative result of the rapid antigen test, whose sample is taken within 1 x 24 hours, or a negative result of the RT-PCR test, whose sample is taken within 3 x 24 hours before departure;

- PPDN that has received the first dose of vaccination must show a negative result of the RT-PCR test, the sample of which is taken within 3 x 24 hours before departure;

- PPDNs with special/comorbid health conditions that prevent travelers from receiving vaccinations, must show a negative RT-PCR test result, the sample is taken within a maximum of 3 x 24 hours before departure, and attach a doctor's certificate from a government hospital that stating that the person concerned has not and/or is unable to take part in the COVID-19 vaccination;

- PPDNs under the age of 6 years, are exempt from vaccination provisions and are not required to show negative results from the RT-PCR test or rapid antigen test. However, it is obligatory to travel with a travel companion, who has complied with the provisions of the COVID-19 vaccination and examination and implements strict health protocols.

"People who will travel, so as not to experience problems during the check-in process at the airport, must prepare the required documents", he said.

During the enactment of this Circular Letter, the determination of the aircraft's transport capacity (load factor) can be carried out at 100 percent, as well as the determination of airport terminal capacity is set at 100 percent of the number of Busy Time Passengers (PWS) during normal times, while still observing health protocols.

Airport operations, it is carried out by the operational conditions of each airport and are still required to serve operations due to certain conditions such as logistics transportation, emergency/urgent interests, and technical landing.

"For the implementation of this Circular to run well in the field, the Directors within the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Head of the Airport Authority Office in Region IX are responsible for supervising", said Director General Novie.

With the flexibility of the community to travel when going home, to meet family in their hometown to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, it is expected to always implement health protocols.

"I urge all parties, let's together create a safe, safe, comfortable and healthy flight, by always implementing health protocols, both before flying, on the plane, or arriving at the destination airport", he concluded.