Haze Grounds Flights at Central Kalimantan Airport - Tempo.co English

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Several airlines halted flight operations at Tjilik Riwut Airport in Palangka Raya City, Central Kalimantan, in response to haze conditions caused by forest fires.

"For instance, Garuda (Indonesia) is not operating until September 26," said Yulindra Dedy, the Head of the Central Kalimantan Transportation Office, in Palangka Raya on Wednesday, September 23, as quoted by ANTARA. This is based on reports received from Tjilik Riwut Airport. 

In addition to Garuda Indonesia, other airlines have adopted similar policies: Citilink has halted flights until September 27, and Lion Group until September 24. "The haze conditions make it unfeasible; the aim is to avoid causing uncertainty for passengers," he explained.

Andi Wiguna, Angkasa Pura Indonesia Public Relations Officer at Tjilik Riwut Airport in Palangka Raya, said the airport is not closed. Rather, there are simply no flights taking off or landing. "It will likely last until the 26th, though that could still change at any moment," he said.

He emphasized that flight safety and security are the top priority. In accordance with operational decisions, flights may be subject to delays, diversions, returns to base, or cancellations if visibility falls below operational minimums.

Angkasa Pura Indonesia urges all prospective passengers to monitor their flight status through official airline channels. They should contact the relevant airline for more information about changes to the flight schedule.

They will continue to monitor visibility conditions and coordinate with all relevant stakeholders to ensure flight operations proceed while prioritizing safety.