Open skies policy limited to charter flights only

Open skies policy limited to charter flights only

JAKARTA (JP): The government's recent decision to allow
international airlines to fly from their home bases to all major
destinations in Indonesia is being limited to chartered flights
and will not apply to scheduled services.

Minister of Communications Giri Suseno Hadihardjono said on
Monday that foreign airlines must also obtain permits from the
local authorities before flying passengers from their home base
to destinations in Indonesia.

"The foreign airlines must notify the authorities of their
flight plans from their home base, be it the United States,
Europe or other international points, and they must return
straight to their original embarkation point," Giri told
reporters.

He said prior permits or notification was necessary to settle
technical matters because many of the country's airports were not
suitable for big carriers.

Twenty-three airports in the country are capable of handling
international flights but only about 14 of them currently serve
foreign carriers, he said.

"If other airports are to receive foreign carriers, they must
improve their air navigational facilities and prepare customs,
immigration, and quarantine services," he said.

President B.J. Habibie said last week the government would
allow foreign airlines to carry foreign tourists directly to all
domestic destinations in an effort to boost the country's
battered tourist industry.

The government's current limited open-sky policy only allows
certain aircraft to enter areas outside the capital Jakarta.

Several foreign carriers have complained about not being
allowed to fly directly to popular destinations such as Bali.

However, Giri indicated that the government had no immediate
plan to adopt a full open-sky policy, saying there were many
aspects to study before implementing such a move.

"We will look into the positive and negative aspects of such a
policy on our airline industry, and once we are ready, we will go
toward that direction," he said.

He said the government would remain cautious about opening its
domestic routes to international competitors, noting that even
developed countries still protected their domestic airlines.

The ministry's latest data show there are 72 international
flight routes to Jakarta and other major cities across the
country plied by foreign carriers with a frequency of 409 flights
a week.

Cities outside Jakarta open to international carriers are
Denpasar (Bali), Surabaya (East Java), Medan (North Sumatra),
Ujung Pandang (South Sulawesi), Tarakan (East Kalimantan),
Pekanbaru (Riau), Padang (West Sumatra), Banda Aceh (Aceh)
Palembang (South Sumatra), Balikpapan (East Kalimantan), Manado
(North Sulawesi), Mataram (West Nusa Tenggara) and Surakarta
(Central Java). (das)