TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Following the haze the hit several regions in Western Indonesia, national flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia reported financial loses as the airline has to spend an additional expense of around Rp20 billion per month.

“The additional expense is to buy aviation turbine fuel (avtur), to pay fees for the longer time when the plane is about to take off or when the plane is waiting for landing,” said PT Garuda Indonesia spokesperson Pujobroto to Tempo on Saturday.

Pujobroto added that there are 600 Garuda Indonesia flights every day and the delayed flight because of the haze affects the next flights.

“Delay in landing or departing also effects the punctuality of the flights,” Pujobroto said.

Haze condition in several regions in Sumatra is alarming.

Flights from and to those regions take longer time because of the longer landing duration and even in several instances, the pilots were forced to turn around to prevent unwanted incidents.

"If the condition is dangerous, the pilots are forced to return to base,” Pujobroto said.

The condition has also been worsened by the fact the landing systems in several airports are not complete.

Airports in Palembang and Pekanbaru for example, already have the controlling device but the airport in Jambi does not have it yet.

"The controlling device is important to send signals to the pilots on information concerning the haze,” he said.

ISTIQOMATUL| JAYADI SUPRIADIN