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irport operator PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II has officially announced that immigration services at Terminal 3 of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten, will remain operational.

The announcement effectively cancels an earlier plan to integrate all immigration services at the airport in Terminal 2.

'€œWe received confirmation tonight [Saturday] when the Immigration Office canceled their plans to offer centralized immigration services at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport'€™s Terminal 2, which was initially planned to launch on Aug. 10,'€ AP II corporate secretary Daryanto said in a written statement that The Jakarta Post received on Sunday.

According to Daryanto, therefore, the immigration process for international passengers departing from Terminal 3 remains unchanged, as the Immigration Office reiterates its commitment to providing services to passengers at Soekarno-Hatta.

Furthermore, AP II expressed its appreciation, saying the Immigration Office had made a wise decision in providing a convenient service for its users.

'€œPT Angkasa Pura II highly appreciates the decision made by the immigration authorities,'€ the statement reads.

Previously, budget airliner AirAsia had voiced its concern about the planned termination of immigration services at Terminal 3, arguing that it would be costly for international passengers at the terminal.

AirAsia Indonesia'€™s president director, Sunu Widyatmoko, said that international passengers flying from Terminal 3 would bear the brunt if the plan was implemented, as they would be asked to arrive at the airport at least four hours before departure in order to undergo a lengthy, confusing and exhausting immigration process.

International passengers were expected to have to travel by bus from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 to complete immigration procedures before travelling back again to their respective departure gates in Terminal 3 for embarkation.

The idea to relocate immigration services at Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 had circulated for some time and related to the plan to make Terminal 3 a domestic-flights only terminal.

All international flights would be centered at Terminal 2.

Deputy Law and Human Rights Minister Denny Indrayana previously expressed his support for the idea to make Terminal 2 an international-flights terminal.

According to Denny, the plan to relocate immigration services from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 should have been carried out last month.

However, on Saturday night, Denny said the Immigration Directorate General had annulled the plan and would maintain the immigration check lounge at the airport'€™s Terminal 3.