We called on other airlines to operate normally because the haze starts diminishing."Pekanbaru (ANTARA News) - The Sultan Syarif Kasim International Airport in Pekanbaru city, Riau Province, has resumed its operation on Sunday after being disrupted by smog disaster for several days, the airport authority said.
"This morning, a Lion Air plane just landed at around 06.45 AM. We called on other airlines to operate normally because the haze starts diminishing," the airports duty manager, Ibnu Hasan, said here Sunday.
The pilot visibility was currently 2,500 meters, he said.
Thick haze, caused by continued forest fires in Riau over the past month had disturbed air transportation in the province.
As a result of thickening haze, the airport authority should temporarily stop flights due to low visibility.
Meanwhile Pekanbarus Chief of Airlines Operator Committee (AOC) Ahmad Nixon said six airlines were still halting operation due to haze in Pekanbaru city.
"Silk Air tries to fly from Pekanbaru airport today but it then cancels it due to the haze, while Mandala Air says it will assess todays weather condition before deciding whether to resume its flight service or not," Ahmad said.
The Firefly airline said it would still halt its operation until further notice while Citilink airline said it stop flying to and from Pekanbaru until March 17.
"Other airlines such as Lion group and Sky Aviation convey that they will not fly from and to Pekanbatu until March 19. While the national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia says it will not serve Pekanbaru route until March 22," he added.
(Reporting by FB Anggoro/translating and editing by Amie Fenia Arimbi/R013)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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