Nyepi Day, February 29, Lion Air Flights From And To Bali Stop Operating

Lion Air plane. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali will temporarily suspend airport operations for 24 hours, which will start tomorrow. The cessation of operations is to welcome the Silent Day of the Caka New Year 1944/2022 AD.

As is known, the Silent Day in the Caka Year 1944/2022 AD will fall on March 3, 2022. Meanwhile, the operational termination of Ngurah Rai Airport will be carried out for 24 hours, starting Thursday, March 3 at 06.00 WITA until Friday, March 4 at 06.00 WITA .

President Director of PT Angkasa Pura I, Faik Fahmi, said to respect the implementation of the Nyepi Day worship which will be carried out by Balinese Hindus, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport will temporarily stop operating.

"We have coordinated with relevant stakeholders, especially with airlines, not to sell flight tickets to and from Bali during Nyepi Day", he said in a written statement received by VOI, Wednesday, March 2.

The termination of airport operations is based on the issuance of Notice to Airmen (NOTAMN) Number A0031/22 NOTAMN which contains notifications to airlines and airports around the world regarding the temporary suspension of flight operations at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport during Nyepi Day.

"From the data received, approximately 115 flights to and from I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport will be temporarily suspended during Nyepi", he said.

According to Faik, flights from Lion Air were the most affected by the cessation of flight operations during Nyepi, reaching 29 flights, with details of 15 flights to Bali and 14 flights departing from Bali.

"Citilink and Wings Air are in second and third place respectively, with 22 and 21 flights, respectively", he explained.

As for flight routes, said Faik, the most affected are flights from/to Soekarno-Hatta Airport, with 57 flights, followed by flights from/to Juanda Airport in Surabaya with 16 flights. Lombok International Airport is in third place with 9 flights affected.

Although airport operations have been suspended for 24 hours, Faik said that Angkasa Pura I as the manager of Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali will still provide personnel for emergencies.

"Nevertheless, we are still alerting personnel at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport to anticipate if there are emergency flights, such as emergency landings and medical evacuations", he said.