TEMPO.CO, Mataram - Air Navigation (Airnav) has asked the operator of Lombok International Airport (LIA) to stop operations due to Mount Agung eruption.
Lombok International Airport Meteorology Station head Oral Sem Willar said that the airport was closed yesterday at 5:55 pm local time. “The instruction to close [the airport] is issued for aviation safety,” he said yesterday after attending a meeting at LIA Crisis Center.
Read also: Mount Agung Erupts; 4 Airliners Cancel Flight to and from Bali
According to him, there were 10 flights remaining yesterday night. Earlier, Lombok-bound Batik Air flight from Jakarta was diverted to Ngurah Rai as the pilots avoided violating NOTAM. The authorities have yet to stop the operations of Ngurah Rai Airport which is located far away from Mount Agung.
LIA General Manager I Gusti Ngurah Ardita earlier said that only Garuda, Silk Air from Singapore and AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur had canceled their flights to Lombok. Citilink Vice President of Communication Benny Butarbutar said that the decision was made for passenger safety.
Sriwijaya Air Senior Manager of Corporate Communications Agus Soedjono said that he will continue to monitor the latest situation of Mount Agung. “Bali-bound flights remain normal. But if a NOTAM issued, we will immediately cancel flights from and to Bali.”
SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID (MATARAM) | AJI NUGROHO
