Pati, C Java (ANTARA) - A member of the House of Representatives (DPR) supports and appreciates Garuda Indonesia's decision to reroute its flights to Europe to circumvent the airspace over Iran for the sake of aviation safety and security.

"As a national flag carrier, Garuda must prioritize the safety and security of its passengers," Marwan Jafar, member of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, told ANTARA here on Sunday commenting on Garuda Indonesia's decision which was made following the crash of a Ukrainian plane inside Iran.

According to BBC, the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Flight PS752 which carried 176 people on board was brought down by a missile shortly after taking-off from an Irainian airport on Wednesday (Jan 8, 2020).

Jafar said all passengers of any airline, including Garuda, demand safe, secure, and comfortable flights so that they are able to arrive at their destinations safely. Therefore, the airlines should not take any risk for their passengers' safety.

Many other airlines, including Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways, have also avoided the Iranian and Iraqi airspace following the Ukrainian plane crash amid growing tensions of the US-Iran relationship after Washington killed a top Iranian general.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also banned the country's operators from flying over the airspace owing to the soaring tensions of the US-Iran relationship.

In response to the recent killing of General Qassem Solaimani in a US airstrike in Iraq, Iran launched a retaliation attack on a US military compound in Iraq.

Acting Director of Operation of the airlines Tumpal M. Hutapea noted in a recent statement that Garuda Indonesia would adjust its flight route from and to Europe, which earlier passed over the airspace of Bucharest to the airspace of Egypt and Greece.

"Hence, all Garuda Indonesia services on the route can run normally," he said, adding that Garuda would closely monitor developments of the situation in the region.

"We will intensively watch the development of the situation and coordinate with all stakeholders to ensure safety and security of Garuda Indonesia's operation," he remarked.

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Translator: Akhmad N, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
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