Tjilik Riwut Airport: Flights Remain Safe Amid Forest and Land Fires

Palangka Raya (ANTARA) - Tjilik Riwut Airport in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, has stated that overall flight operations remain safe despite the onset of forest and land fires (karhutla), which have produced a thin haze.

“Operational adjustments are made based on weather conditions, with flight safety as the top priority,” said I Made Darmawan, General Manager of the Tjilik Riwut Airport Branch Office, in a statement in Palangka Raya on Monday.

However, he explained, the haze caused by the fires has reduced visibility. One affected flight was a Susi Air service on the Palangka Raya–Hampapak route (PKY–HMS), which experienced a departure delay of approximately 60 minutes.

In response to current conditions, Tjilik Riwut Airport continues to hold intensive coordination with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), AirNav Indonesia, airlines and all stakeholders.

“We continue to coordinate intensively to monitor weather developments and visibility on a regular basis,” he said.

All operational flight decisions refer to applicable regulations and safety procedures, and are adjusted according to current weather conditions.

Tjilik Riwut Airport already has emergency handling procedures in place and personnel on standby. In addition, the airport is conducting area patrols, monitoring conditions in the surrounding environment, and coordinating with relevant agencies to anticipate the impact of the fires on operational flight safety.

Tjilik Riwut Airport currently serves an average of around 20–30 aircraft movements, both arrivals and departures, per day, in line with airline operational schedules.

Average passenger traffic at Tjilik Riwut Airport reaches approximately 2,500–3,000 passengers per day, covering both arriving and departing passengers.

Meanwhile, available flight routes include Jakarta, Surabaya, Semarang, Banjarmasin, Sampit, Muara Teweh, and Hampapak.