Indonesia's COVID surge spurs Japanese expat exodus

Japanese companies have accelerated efforts to help expatriates leave Indonesia amid a surge in coronavirus cases driven by the delta variant, with Tokyo supporting chartered flights home by easing entry restrictions. A chartered ANA flight landed at Tokyo's Narita Airport on Wednesday, carrying 192 returnees who are required to spend more than a week in quarantine at a hotel. The flight was the first under a program launched by the airline to bring back expats working in Indonesia for Japanese companies along with their families. Japan Airlines will send its own chartered flight on Sunday. This follows an ANA flight chartered by the general contractor Shimizu that repatriated 52 employees and family members last week. A total of 370 Japanese nationals in Indonesia have tested positive as of Wednesday, with the infections resulting in 17 deaths, according to the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta. Roughly 2,000 Japanese expats showed interest in leaving the country as of Friday, the deadline to sign up for the chartered flights, according to the embassy, which is taking the applications. Both ANA and JAL will send additional chartered flights to accommodate surplus applicants. The Japanese government is supporting the flights by exempting them from the limits placed on international arrivals leading into the Tokyo Olympics. Packages cost between 400,000 yen and 500,000 yen ($3,650 to $4,560) per person for economy-class seats on a chartered flight out of Indonesia and quarantine accommodations -- an 11-night stay at a hotel. The Japanese government expects most flight packages to be purchased by expats who can expect their employers to defray costs.<br/>