TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State airport operator Angkasa Pura II (AP II) said the first-day implementation of the Eid homecoming ban on Thursday at airports under the company's management ran optimally.

“Air traffic at AP II airports, including Soekarno-Hatta Airport which is the largest airport in Indonesia, drops up to 90 percent compared to previous days. This shows that people refrain from traveling unless for urgent matters,” said AP II President Director Muhammad Awaluddin in a written statement on Thursday, May 6.

The government decided to bar the annual mass exodus or mudik of Eid al-Fitr this year from May 6-17. Based on the Covid-19 Task Force’s Circular No. 13/2021, cross-city or regency or provincial or state travel activities are prohibited except for urgent matters and other non-homecoming purposes.

AP II had opened the Air Transport Control Post on Thursday during the Eid holiday season at airports under its management.

Awaluddin explained the posts at 19 airports are tasked to monitor and check travel requirement documents of travelers. The posts are integrated with and connected to the Transportation Ministry’s national posts in order to strengthen supervision.

Available flights at AP II airports, Awaluddin added, could accommodate the needs of travelers with urgent needs even though a number of airlines confirmed that they did not serve flights to support the government's Eid homecoming ban policy.

Read: Mudik Ban; Govt Guarantees Full Flight Refund

CAESAR AKBAR