Indonesia levies sanctions on local operators for operational breaches

Indonesian transportation minister Ignasius Jonan has imposed significant sanctions on Lion Air and Indonesia AirAsia, following a pledge to crack down on domestic operators who contravened standard operating procedures. A Transportation Ministry spokesman said both carriers would be subject to a suspension of permits to use their own ground handling facilities at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International (Lion Air) and Bali’s Ngurah Rai International (AirAsia Indonesia). Both carriers recently experienced issues with international passengers being deplaned at domestic terminals without passing immigration. In the interim, both carriers would be required to source and use other approved ground handling services. The ITM said the sanctions were given “to allow the airline time to improve its management”. <br/>