TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Garuda Indonesia Director Irfan Setiaputra admitted on Monday that the flag-carrier transported passengers in recent flights under an exemption permit amidst the government’s ban on mudik (homecoming), which was enacted to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to him, Garuda acted on the grounds of humanity by transporting Indonesian migrant workers from overseas stuck in Jakarta as the ban made it impossible for them to return to their hometowns.

“We gathered the migrant workers who arrived from overseas that were stuck in Jakarta. We requested a special permit to transport them,” said Irfan in a live social media session with Kumparan on Monday.

He also elaborated that the permit was requested to the Transportation Ministry as the regulator and to Angkasa Pura as the state-owned airport operator. Garuda Indonesia immediately operated the flight under stringent health protocols as soon as they obtained the exemption permit.

So far, according to Irfan, Garuda has flown three exemption flights. He assures that the health protocols that were enacted include maintaining physical distancing within airplane cabins.

He acknowledges the exemption flights have presented a dilemma amidst the COVID-19 pandemic but on the other hand had to serve the non-homecoming passengers as the Indonesian aviation industry is facing “an unusual situation.”

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA