The Transportation Ministry said PT Indonesia AirAsia had violated the flight permit given by the ministry, which has been stated in the Foreign Flight Permit released for year 2014-2015.
The permit states that AirAsia was only allowed to fly from Surabaya to Singapore on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, whereas the ill-fated AirAsia flight QZ 8501 flew on a Sunday morning.
"PT Indonesia AirAsia did not apply to the Transportation Ministrys Directorate General of Air Transportation for a flight operational change. This is a violation of the flight permit that we have given," said Barata.
Passengers, who have booked tickets for AirAsia on the Surabaya-Singapore route and vice versa, are going to be referred to another airline.
(INE/o001)
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Editor: AA Ariwibowo
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