Haze Disrupts Flights at West Kalimantan Airport for One Month - Tempo.co English
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Haze continues to blanket Singkawang City in West Kalimantan, halting flight operations at Singkawang Airport for one month. As a result, the city government and relevant stakeholders are seeking alternative flight scheduling arrangements.
Ilham Hafizi, Head of the Singkawang Airport Service Unit, said on Friday that flights at the airport had not yet resumed operations due to persistent, thick haze. “Yes, it has been exactly a month. That is because the haze remains thick,” he said, as quoted by ANTARA.
Previously, Ilham Hafizi stated that the last flight to operate at Singkawang Airport took place on August 17, 2026. No flights have been able to depart since then.
The Singkawang City Government has also noted this situation, as the disruption to air connectivity affects public mobility and economic activity at the airport.
Singkawang Mayor Tjhai Chui Mie said the city government is encouraging alternative flight scheduling that takes visibility conditions into account, such as morning flights. “Visibility in the morning is relatively better than in the afternoon, when it tends to deteriorate due to haze,” she said.
Tjhai Chui Mie conveyed this during a working meeting with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Singkawang Airport Management Unit (UPBU), and airline representatives at the Singkawang Mayor's Office.
She said the proposal for morning flights must still align with the weather monitoring results and flight safety regulations. “This effort is crucial for maintaining public mobility and supporting the continuity of economic activities around the Singkawang Airport area, which has also been affected by the reduction in flight operations,” she said.
She said the Singkawang City Government will continue to coordinate with the BMKG, airport operators, Supadio Air Force Base, and airlines to explore adjusting flight schedules based on visibility conditions.
According to her, this effort is expected to help maintain air connectivity while revitalizing local economic activity—particularly for business owners, traders, drivers, and the service sector—that relies on airport passenger traffic.
Meanwhile, TransNusa airline representative Adji Jallu Wicaksono stated that the airline continues to coordinate with the BMKG to monitor air quality developments in Singkawang.
He said flight safety remains the primary consideration in determining aircraft departures. If a flight is canceled, the airline will fulfill passenger rights in accordance with applicable regulations. “We are providing a seven-day window for affected passengers to arrange a replacement,” he said.
Regarding the proposal for morning flights, Adji said they would first coordinate with headquarters’ management to determine the feasibility of the schedule. "Looking at the air conditions in the morning, it is indeed more feasible in Singkawang," he said.
Adji also urged travel agents selling flight tickets to provide information that aligns with the flight status determined by the airline.
When an airline closes its flight schedule, ticket sellers should avoid providing information that could cause confusion among prospective passengers. “Do not give passengers false hope, as this leads to miscommunication,” he said.
