TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - One day ahead of the ban on the Eid al-Fitr mass exodus, or mudik, Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport was being packed by would-be travelers both at the airport’s departure and arrival terminals.

Dozens of airport officers can be seen constantly reminding people to maintain a safe distance and obey other health protocols. Despite not being overly crowded on May 5, many people that are checking in for flights could be seen sitting and waiting closely together and not obeying safe distances.

Soekarno-Hatta branch communication and legal senior manager, M. Holik Muwardi said there has been no significant increase in passenger traffic despite the crowded airport lobby today.

Some people said that they had arrived at the airport without purchasing flight tickets and gambling on being able to board a flight today before the mudik ban is imposed on May 6.

“It is indeed quite packed in Terminal 2 due to simultaneous flight departures but overall the number of pax is still within the normal range,” said Muwardi.

Soekarno-Hatta airport’s Terminal 2 departure area today has around 25-30 flights scheduled between 05:00 until 11:00 local time.

He assured that state-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura II along with the military and police personnel, airport authorities, and air transport Covid-19 task force has imposed the health protocol stringently.

Read: Vehicles Leave Early Ahead of Ban on 'Mudik' Mass Exodus

JONIANSYAH (CONTRIBUTOR)