State-owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Mustafa Abubakar witnessed the delays of the flights when he conducted an impromptu inspection at the airport.
Flight GA 152 for Jakarta - Batam destination was among the flights that were delayed due to the strikes by pilots who were grouped in the Garuda Pilot Association (APG).
The GA 152 flight was initially scheduled to depart at 9.25 am but was delayed two times. Up to 11.30 the flight had not yet departed.
Pilot Hendry Chariun who would fly the plane to Batam told the minister that he had not yet flown the aircraft because of the absence of the cabin crew members.
Based on in formation on flight schedules, other delays also happened with Garuda flight number GA 312 for Jakarta-Surabaya route. Its departure schedule was 11.15 am but until 12.20 it was still delayed.
At the same time, GA 406 leaving for Denpasar had not time schedule on the monitor, while GA 188 which was scheduled to fly at 13.30 was said to have been canceled.
Garuda Indonesia Spokesman Pudjobroto acknowledged that the strikes staged by the pilots had affected a number of flights, particularly noon flights.
"Garuda`s early flights from Jakarta to a number of cities in the country, including abroad, proceeded normally," he said.
He said that in order to overcome the pilot strikes his company was preparing 130 assistance pilots.
"The assistance pilots came from senior and instructor pilots," he said.
(Uu.A014/HAJM/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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