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Lion Air Group temporarily suspends domestic flights amid confusion
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Health Ministry officials detect the body heat of newly arrived passengers with a thermal scanner at Abdulrachman Saleh Airport in Malang, East Java, Monday (1/27/2020). (JP / Nedi Putra AW) (JP/ Nedi Putra AW)
L
ion Air Group will temporarily suspend all domestic flight operations for five days amid passenger confusion over the government’s mandated pre-flight documents.
The group said on Wednesday that operations would be suspended between May 27 and 31 so the company could disseminate information about the new boarding requirements via its website and branch offices.
“Many potential passengers were unable to continue their journey or fly and had to bear all the expenses, just because they were unaware or misinformed about requirements,” said Lion Air spokesman Danang Mandala Prihantoro in a statement.
The airline also maintained that customers with flights slated for such dates may either request a refund or a reschedule.
Lion Air Group had resumed operations on May 10 after the government relaxed a ban on all passenger flights. The relaxation was meant to allow certain people, such as officials, medical staff, businessmen, the critically ill and bereaved family members, to fly between cities.
However, passengers need to provide certain documents prior to boarding a plane, in compliance with the circular letter No. 4/2020 issued by the COVID-19 task force.
Generally, they are required to show their flight ticket, identity card, medical letter stating that they are coronavirus-free, as well as official letters of duty, among other documents.
Danang said the air carrier would also use the five-day break to inspect the health of employees involved in previous flights.
Last week, the Transportation Ministry suspended a flight operated by Lion Air Group full service subsidiary Batik Air on the Jakarta-Denpasar, Bali route as the airline was found to have violated the physical distancing policy in its operation.
The flight in question was filled by more than half the aircraft capacity, which exceeded the maximum capacity allowed by the government regulation.
