Ministry of Transportation Denies Rumours of International Flight Restrictions
The Ministry of Transportation has denied reports claiming that all international flights have been suspended due to the heating situation in the Middle East stemming from the Iran-Israel conflict.
“The news is untrue,” said Director General of Air Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, Lukman F. Laisa, quoted from a written statement on Wednesday, 18 March 2026.
Lukman stated that the Ministry of Transportation continues to monitor international flight operations to the Middle East region. The monitoring is conducted to ensure that passenger handling proceeds safely and in a coordinated manner, including for passengers who have been stranded.
As of 17 March 2026 at 10:30 WIB, the Ministry of Transportation recorded that there are still two aircraft with stranded status in Indonesia. Both are Qatar Airways aircraft, one unit at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, and one unit at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali.
Lukman added that several airspace areas in the affected region are beginning to reopen, including the United Arab Emirates. With this reopening, several airlines have started operating flights again, although still limited.
Emirates, for example, has operated limited flights from and to Jakarta and Denpasar. However, this airline’s operations were disrupted on 16 March 2026 due to issues with the fuel farm facility at Dubai Airport, which impacted delays and schedule adjustments. The Ministry of Transportation stated that handling of affected passengers continues, including the gradual transportation of previously stranded passengers.
“Etihad Airways has also been reported to operate limited flights. This airline plans to add frequencies as part of contingency measures, especially for routes from Jakarta and Denpasar to Abu Dhabi,” said Lukman.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has conducted repatriation flights since 8 March 2026 and has begun gradually reopening limited services from Jakarta. Affected passengers, including Umrah pilgrims, have been handled through various options, such as refunds, rescheduling, and rerouting to other airlines.
Lukman said that as of 16 March 2026, there are no more stranded passengers in Jeddah handled by Qatar Airways.
Furthermore, Lukman said that direct flights to Saudi Arabia operated by Saudi Arabian Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and Flyadeal continue to operate normally and are unaffected by the conflict.
In addition, indirect flights via third countries served by various international airlines have returned to normal and are ready to accommodate passenger travel needs.
“The public is advised to monitor official information from airlines and relevant authorities, and to adjust travel plans according to the latest developments,” he said.