Each passenger is entitled to a compensation of Rp1.25 billion if he or she has passed away or has been totally disabled.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK) has confirmed the compensation rights of AirAsia flight QZ8501s passengers that will be given to their immediate relatives.

OJKs Executive Head of Non-Bank Industry Supervision Firdaus Djaelani said here on Tuesday that based on the Transportation Ministers Regulation Number 77 Year 2011 on the Responsibility of Airline Carriers, the coverage value that should be paid by the insurance company to each passenger is Rp1.25 billion.

"Each passenger is entitled to a compensation of Rp1.25 billion if he or she has passed away or has been totally disabled," he noted.

According to OJK, the insurance company that covers AirAsia Airlines is PT Asuransi Sinar Mas (Sinar Mas Insurance) and PT Asuransi Jasa Indonesia (Jasindo, Indonesian Insurance Service).

AirAsia has been cooperating with PT Asuransi Dayin Mitra (Dayin Mitra Insurance) to provide travel insurance for its passengers.

But, insurance from PT Dayin Mitra had been the added-protection bought by the passengers and excluded from AirAsias ticket fare. So PT Dayin Mitras responsibility has been restricted to those who bought the insurance.

OJK has identified 25 of 155 passengers who had bought Dayin Mitras insurance policy.

Dayin Mitra Insurances Technical Deputy Director Elizabeth M Quendangen said that of the 25 passengers, the company will pay Rp750 million each to the immediate family of 10 passengers who bought one-way tickets and Rp315 million each to 15 passengers who bought return tickets.

"We have been cooperating with the AirAsia management and gradually we will call the passengers families. As soon as the passengers families are identified, we will call them and explain our procedures," she noted.

With regard to the compulsory compensation to be paid by PT Jasa Raharja (a state-owned insurance company), OJK referred to Finance Minister Regulation Number 37/PMK.010/2008 about the Compensation Value and Compulsory Insurance Fund for Public on Road, River, Lake, Crossover, Sea, and Air Transportation, as well as Law Number 1 Year 2009 about Flight Transportation.

Djaelani pointed out that both regulations mention that compensations will only be paid if the accident occurs on scheduled domestic route and hajj pilgrimages.

Thus, Djaelani added, the passengers of AirAsia flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore were not included in the coverage of PT Jasa Raharjas insurance.

"The passengers of AirAsia flight QZ8501 are not included in domestic route norms and the related air transportations tariff is not included in compulsory contribution norms," he confirmed.

OJK has also asked PT Asuransi Sinar Mas, PT Jasindo, and PT Dayin Mitra to proactively search for the relatives of the 155 passengers of AirAsia flight QZ8501 so that the insurance coverage can be paid soon.

Besides that, to pay the insurance coverage to the passengers relatives, the insurances companies will also pay the compensation of aircrafts fuselage and machine, as well as the third party, both loss of goods and lives.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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