State-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura II (AP II) has urged airline passengers to take COVID-19 tests before arriving at airports for a smooth journey.
Angkasa Pura II operations and services director Muhamad Wasid said in a statement that in the past few days, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, had seen an increase in the number of passengers for the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, antaranews.com reported on Tuesday.
“There are so many passengers flying to various destinations across Indonesia. We have prepared as many personnel as possible, 100 percent of our staff has been deployed [to manage the traffic],” he said, adding that the airport operator had also prepared the necessary facilities and infrastructure to welcome passengers.
The national COVID-19 task force has released a circular that regulates travel for the year-end holiday season from Dec. 19 to Jan. 8, 2021.
“The circular is aimed at increasing the implementation of COVID-19 health protocols during the 2020 Christmas and the 2021 New Year holidays, which come with surveillance, control and evaluation in order to prevent a surge in COVID-19 transmission,” reads the task force’s circular No. 3/2020 on health protocols for travelers during the holidays.
Among the requirements is Point 3(c), which stipulates that travelers using air transportation or trains to, from or within Java Island are required to show negative rapid antigen test results that are valid three days prior to departure.
“Travelers using land transportation, both with public and private vehicles, are encouraged to take rapid antigen tests that are valid for three days as part of the travel requirements.
“Filling the Indonesia e-HAC [electronic health alert card] is mandatory for all travelers using all kinds of transportation, except for trains,” the circular says.
A different rule applies to those traveling to Bali. Air travelers must provide a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result that is valid for a maximum of seven days, while sea and land travelers are required to carry with them negative rapid antigen test results that are valid for three days.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport executive general manager Agus Haryadi said the test results would be checked by the Health Minister’s Port Health Authority (KKP Kemenkes) and the airlines' check-in staff members.
“We request passengers to bring their test results [to the] airport,” he said, saying that travelers who had taken COVID-19 tests may arrive at the airport two hours before departure.
Meanwhile, those who plan to take the test at the airport are suggested to arrive four hours before departure. (jes)
