Minister asks Kalimantan operators to adjust schedules amid forest fire haze

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi has asked aviation and shipping transport operators in Kalimantan to adjust their travel schedules in response to haze from forest and land fires (karhutla) in order to maintain safety.

Dudy said operational adjustments are made by considering conditions on the ground, especially when the haze reduces visibility to the point of potentially disrupting the safety of flights and shipping services serving the public.

“So far, the transport sector in Kalimantan has been adjusted to the haze conditions caused by forest and land fires,” the minister said in Jakarta on Saturday.

According to Dudy, operators are asked to assess weather developments regularly before operating their fleets, including considering delaying or cancelling journeys if conditions are deemed to no longer meet safety standards.

“If the smoke is really disruptive, of course we ask operators, especially aviation and shipping operators, to consider whether their journeys should be postponed or cancelled,” the minister said.

He stressed that the safety of passengers, crew and all transport service users must be the main consideration in every operational decision, even though the public’s mobility needs must still be maintained as well as possible.

“Safety must be our main concern,” he asserted.

Nevertheless, the Ministry of Transport has confirmed that so far no airports in Kalimantan have been closed due to the impact of the haze, while adjustments have only been made to flight schedules according to weather conditions.

“So far we have not closed any airports, only flights have been adjusted,” he explained.

Dudy explained that flight and shipping operations continue when weather permits, so that inter-regional connectivity as well as the distribution of goods and public necessities can continue to run safely.

The Ministry of Transport continues to monitor the development of the haze in Kalimantan together with transport operators so that every operational adjustment is carried out quickly, precisely, and prioritises safety without neglecting service smoothness.

“Because we adjust to the weather, which can change at any time. But if the weather permits, flights or shipping will still be carried out,” the minister said.