Forest Fires: Airport Authority Ensures Flight Services in Samarinda Remain Safe

The Class I Airport Organising Unit of Aji Pangeran Tumenggung (APT) Pranoto has stated that flight service operations at APT Pranoto Airport in Samarinda City, East Kalimantan Province, remain safe to date, particularly from the impact of haze caused by forest and land fires.

Head of the Class I Airport Organising Unit of APT Pranoto, I Kadek Yuli Sastrawan, revealed that the provision of flight services and daily passenger movements at the Class I APT Pranoto Airport remain stable.

“So far there has been none, and hopefully there will be no impact on flight operations or visibility at the airport,” he said in Samarinda on Saturday, 22 August 2026.

From 1 to 21 August 2026, the Class I APT Pranoto Airport recorded serving a total of 40,336 flight service users, comprising 19,897 passengers arriving at the arrivals area and 20,439 passengers departing from Samarinda City.

Although visibility in the airport area and its surroundings remains safe to date, the Class I Airport Organising Unit of APT Pranoto has still prepared measures to address the impact of haze from forest and land fires occurring on the island of Kalimantan.

The passenger terminal area at the airport has been fitted with air conditioning and air filtration devices. “In addition, there are also health facilities, namely the Health Quarantine Centre, which is on standby. If it is later affected by smoke, all service users will be advised to wear masks,” said I Kadek Yuli Sastrawan.

The airport authority is coordinating with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), AirNav, the police, and airlines in anticipating the impact of haze from forest and land fires.

Furthermore, the airport authority has issued an appeal to the surrounding community not to burn rubbish or land in areas near the airport, as this could disrupt flight service operations.

Communities around the airport are reminded that any act of burning that could disrupt flight operations and safety may be subject to criminal sanctions and heavy fines in accordance with the provisions of Law Number 1 of 2009 concerning Aviation.