Open skies policy limited to charter flights only<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government's recent decision to allow
\ninternational airlines to fly from their home bases to all major
\ndestinations in Indonesia is being limited to chartered flights
\nand will not apply to scheduled services.<\/p>\n
Minister of Communications Giri Suseno Hadihardjono said on
\nMonday that foreign airlines must also obtain permits from the
\nlocal authorities before flying passengers from their home base
\nto destinations in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"The foreign airlines must notify the authorities of their
\nflight plans from their home base, be it the United States,
\nEurope or other international points, and they must return
\nstraight to their original embarkation point,\" Giri told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
He said prior permits or notification was necessary to settle
\ntechnical matters because many of the country's airports were not
\nsuitable for big carriers.<\/p>\n
Twenty-three airports in the country are capable of handling
\ninternational flights but only about 14 of them currently serve
\nforeign carriers, he said.<\/p>\n
\"If other airports are to receive foreign carriers, they must
\nimprove their air navigational facilities and prepare customs,
\nimmigration, and quarantine services,\" he said.<\/p>\n
President B.J. Habibie said last week the government would
\nallow foreign airlines to carry foreign tourists directly to all
\ndomestic destinations in an effort to boost the country's
\nbattered tourist industry.<\/p>\n
The government's current limited open-sky policy only allows
\ncertain aircraft to enter areas outside the capital Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Several foreign carriers have complained about not being
\nallowed to fly directly to popular destinations such as Bali.<\/p>\n
However, Giri indicated that the government had no immediate
\nplan to adopt a full open-sky policy, saying there were many
\naspects to study before implementing such a move.<\/p>\n
\"We will look into the positive and negative aspects of such a
\npolicy on our airline industry, and once we are ready, we will go
\ntoward that direction,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the government would remain cautious about opening its
\ndomestic routes to international competitors, noting that even
\ndeveloped countries still protected their domestic airlines.<\/p>\n
The ministry's latest data show there are 72 international
\nflight routes to Jakarta and other major cities across the
\ncountry plied by foreign carriers with a frequency of 409 flights
\na week.<\/p>\n
Cities outside Jakarta open to international carriers are
\nDenpasar (Bali), Surabaya (East Java), Medan (North Sumatra),
\nUjung Pandang (South Sulawesi), Tarakan (East Kalimantan),
\nPekanbaru (Riau), Padang (West Sumatra), Banda Aceh (Aceh)
\nPalembang (South Sumatra), Balikpapan (East Kalimantan), Manado
\n(North Sulawesi), Mataram (West Nusa Tenggara) and Surakarta
\n(Central Java). (das)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/open-skies-policy-limited-to-charter-flights-only-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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