SEMARANG – Indonesian SOE Minister Erick Thohir appreciated the implementation of the travel restriction policy for Ramadan exodus at the General Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang. The appreciation was expressed during the Minister’s working visit at the airport on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 13:50 local time.
The working visit aimed to ensure smooth implementation of travel restrictions during the period of Ramadan exodus ban in order to accelerate COVID-19 response. Also present was Angkasa Pura Airports Business Development Director Dendi T. Danianto who welcome and accompany the Minister and his entourage during the visit.
The first inspection was conducted at an area for body temperature check which use thermal scanner installed at the exhibition hall, then headed to the health inspection and document verification areas. The inspection then continued to international arrival area to check the airport readiness in implementing the travel restrictions and accommodating repatriation flights for Indonesian migrant workers from Kuala Lumpur to Indonesia and repatriation of Malaysian nationals from May 18 to May 23, 2020.
“I really appreciate the performance of Semarang’s General Ahmad Yani Airport’s officials who did a good job in preparing flight operations during the travel restrictions and also on repatriation flights’ plan. This can be seen from the availability of waiting chairs to anticipate the queue before the Indonesian Migrant Workers get a COVID-19 rapid test in the corridor of international arrivals area. In addition, arrangements on flight schedules and direction for passengers at the airport have also been observed in order to avoid overcrowding at the airport," Erick said.
Meanwhile, Dendi said, "We have also implemented queue arrangement for departing passengers in several zones to avoid overcrowding. At the exhibition hall area, the queue is divided into three zones and chairs are provided with physical distancing applied and the gap of the front and the back of the chairs are adjusted to the needs of passengers if they use a trolley.”
After queueing, prospective passengers head to the flight document verification counters set by airlines and then continue to the medical screening and health documents verification counters set by the Port Health Office (KKP) officer. Not only in the departure area, physical distancing is also implemented at the passenger arrivals by providing two lanes for passengers who have filled the Health Alert Card (HAC) and for those who have not to avoid overcrowding.
Earlier at 11:40 WIB, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo also inspected General Ahmad Yani International Airport to see its preparedness in implementing travel restrictions in order to accelerate the COVID-19 response. Officials at the airport provide explanation to the governor related to the implementation of health protocol as well as the procedure that prospective passengers need to carry out to get permission to fly. He also greeted prospective passengers and ask about the required documents that have to be prepared based on the government’s regulation.
"We are committed to supporting Government’s policies related to travel restrictions in order to accelerate COVID-19 response during the period of Ramadan exodus ban. Therefore, we strive to make the implementation of the policy run smoothly by paying attention to the principle of health protocol to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially physical distancing at airports managed by Angkasa Pura Airports," Dendi said.
He also urged people who have to travel by plane during the period of Ramadan exodus ban to prepare all required documents based on the prevailing regulation before coming to the airport and arrive at least three hours before the flight to avoid overcrowding during documents’ verification.
