TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Transportation Ministry stated that the capacity of aircraft passengers could be increased from 70 percent to 100 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic so long there is high public awareness about the implementation of the health protocol.

“Of course the passenger capacity in the future will not be limited to 70 percent. We can also set 100 percent capacity as applied abroad,” said the ministry’s Director-General of Air Transport, Novie Riyanto Rahardjo in a virtual event held by Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Postgraduate Program today, October 14.

He said the ministry, along with the Health Ministry and the COVID-19 mitigation task force, still set the maximum passenger capacity at 70 percent of the total seats per trip to comply with the physical distancing rule.

Novie admitted that there was no such provision based on the international standard, such as in European countries and the United States. Because, he explained, they enforced the aircraft passenger management strictly starting from the check-in process until the passengers enter the flight cabin.

“No one protests. Besides, all passengers wear face masks and other standard equipment, the cabin is also disinfected frequently, and they are not allowed to speak on the plane,” he added.

Novie said that the Transportation Ministry was reviewing several regulations related to the flight operation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read: Lion Air Backs Idea to Reinstate Full Passenger Capacity Despite Pandemic

ANTARA