Haze disrupts flight services

JAMBI, Jambi: Thick haze once again blankets the city, forcing the state carrier Merpati Nusantara Airlines to cancel its flight services between the city and Jakarta.

Head of the local Merpati operation, Max Mandagi, said on Thursday that the airline has stopped its twice daily flights to Jakarta since Tuesday because the haze has cut visibility to 1,000 meters which makes it impossible for Fokker 28 planes to land and take off, the Antara news agency reported.

The minimum visibility required for the plane is 2,000 meters.

The airline resumed its services last Friday after a hiatus of nearly two months because of the haze, which cleared temporarily when rain began falling. (emb)