"We suspect that other airlines have violated flight path rules. We are identifying those airlines that are operating flights other than the agreed schedule. There is no double route," Djoko noted here on Monday.
Djoko remarked that the license could be revoked if the airline had consecutively violated flight path rules.
During the same occasion, Legal and Public Relations Head Hemmy Pamuraharjo affirmed that the transportation ministry could not amend the airlines proposal to determine the flight route.
"The transportation ministry is not entitled to determine and change the flight route and the slot," he pointed out.
Hemmy explained that the Indonesia Slot Coordinator (IDSC) only offered a slot if the slot requested by the airline was not available.
"IDSC and Garuda Indonesia function only as event organizers, instead of determining the slots," he affirmed.
Director General of Air Transportation had earlier confirmed that Indonesia AirAsia has violated flight route rules, which has been agreed by both parties.
"Based on the foreign airlines permit for the winter period 2014-2015 for the Surabaya to Singapore route to AirAsia via letter number AU/008/30/6/DRJU/DAU on October 24, 2014, AirAsia had proposed flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays (day code: 1246)," Djoko said in a press conference here on Monday.
However, Djoko noted that AirAsia QZ8501 aircraft had operated flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays (day code: 1357).
"Based on our identification, Indonesia AirAsia has violated flight path rules because the airline did not have a license to fly on the Surabaya to Singapore route on Sundays. Therefore, the ministry has suspended Indonesia AirAsia from operating on the Surabaya-to-Singapore route," he emphasized.
Djoko confirmed that AirAsia had submitted a request to operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
"We agreed to AirAsias request," he noted.
He stated that AirAsia should submit an official schedule, which was given to the origin and destination airports, and should be immediately adjusted to the slot accordingly.
If the days are not suitable, then the airline must apply for a revision regarding its operations with the directorate general of air transportation, he noted.
"But, until now, the revised petition has yet to be submitted to us. So, the schedule was not considered to be a problem," he added.
(Uu.A063/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
