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Government eases airline passenger cap, mandates PCR test for domestic flights
Under the new travel rules, which will come into effect on Sunday, airlines are allowed to operate at almost full capacity without any seat distancing, compared to the 70 percent limit set in the previous regulation. They are only required to provide three empty rows during their flights as a "quarantine zone" for passengers who show COVID-19 symptoms.
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Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
T
he government has eased the passenger capacity limit for airlines in a bid to further boost the nation's economic recovery and as the country gradually lifts most of its COVID-19 restrictions amid a continued decline in coronavirus cases.
Under the new travel rules, which will come into effect on Sunday, airlines are allowed to operate at almost full capacity without any seat distancing, compared to a 70 percent limit set in the previous regulation. They are only required to provide three empty rows during their flights as a "quarantine zone" for passengers who show COVID-19 symptoms.
Passengers, however, are required to present a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken at least two days before their scheduled flight. A similar requirement will be applicable to children under the age of 12 who are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.
Meanwhile, airline passengers who have not been able to be vaccinated because of medical reasons will also be allowed to travel domestically, as long as they can show a signed medical document validating their condition.
Under the previous regulation, the PCR test mandate was applicable for people who have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while fully vaccinated passengers may opt to take a rapid antigen test, which is more affordable but are less accurate than PCR tests.
The new PCR mandate will be in effect for domestic airline passengers traveling to and from airports in Java and Bali, as well as from regions under the level 3 and level 4 multitiered public activity restrictions (PPKM).
Read also: Govt dials back curbs as pandemic show signs of easing
