... apologizes for any inconvenience experienced by the travelers due to Force Majeur situation that is beyond the control of Garuda Indonesia...Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Garuda Indonesia Airlines has cancelled 112 flights to avoid aviation hazards and to ensure passenger safety due to volcanic ash being spewed by Mount Raung in East Java.
The flights were cancelled in response to Mount Raung eruption in Bondowoso, East Java, and after a notice was issued to airmen (Notam) "No A1415/15, B1073/15, C0498/15 AD CLSD DUE TO RAUNG MT.ACT" that was released by the Briefing Office of Ministry of Transportation, Daily Executive of Garuda Indonesia Vice President Corporate Communications, Ikhsan Rosan, stated in a press release here on Friday.
The Notam, released at 8.25 am local time, is related to extending the closing time of Denpasar Ngurah Rai Airport and Lombok International Airport until 9:30 pm Eastern Indonesian Time (GMT+8) this evening. Following this, 112 flights of Garuda Indonesia were cancelled on Friday.
In total, around 3,000 passangers have to wait until unknown time in several airports in Java, Bali, and Lombok Island due to the eruption.
"In addition to Denpasar Ngurah Rai Airport and Lombok International Airport, Blimbingsari Airport in Banyuwangi and Jember Notohadinegoro Airport have also been shut down, and all flights operating to and from these airports have been cancelled," he remarked.
The 112 cancelled flights include 27 return flights on Jakarta-Denpasar route, 11 return flights on Denpasar-Surabaya route, six return flights on Denpasar-Yogyakarta route, two return flights on Denpasar-Timika route, four return flights on Denpasar-Labuan Bajo route.
"In addition to Denpasar Ngurah Rai Airport and Lombok International Airport, Blimbingsari Airport in Banyuwangi and Jember Notohadinegoro Airport have also been shut down, and all flights operating to and from these airports have been cancelled," he remarked.
The 112 cancelled flights include 27 return flights on Jakarta-Denpasar route, 11 return flights on Denpasar-Surabaya route, six return flights on Denpasar-Yogyakarta route, two return flights on Denpasar-Timika route, four return flights on Denpasar-Labuan Bajo route.
Also two return flights on Denpasar-Kupang route, four return flights on Denpasar-Makassar route, two return flights on Denpasar-Dili (East Timor) route, two return flights on Denpasar-Manado route, and two return flights on Denpasar-Semarang route.
With regard to international flights, two return flights each on Denpasar-Tambaloka, Denpasar-Melbourne, Denpasar-Sydney, Denpasar-Perth, Denpasar-Narita (Tokyo), Denpasar-Kansai (Osaka), Denpasar-Seoul, and Denpasar-Hong Kong routes, and four flights on Denpasar-Singapore route were cancelled.
Furthermore, two flights each on Banyuwangi-Surabaya and Jember-Surabaya routes, two return flights each on Lombok-Sumbawa, Lombok-Denpasar, Lombok-Bima, Lombok-Makassar, and Lombok-Surabaya routes, and eight flights on Lombok-Jakarta route were also cancelled.
"In response to this situation, Garuda Indonesia is implementing a fee waiver policy on cancellation fees, rebooking/reroute fees, refund fees, administrayion fees, and other ticket change fees for passengers who had already booked scheduled flights to and from the four cities," he revealed.
Moreover, Garuda Indonesia is not accepting any bookings for flights on the aforementioned routes for Saturday, July 11.
Garuda Indonesia will be monitoring the situation and progress related to Mount Raung's activity and the readiness of each airport to resume flight operations, Rosan added.
"Garuda Indonesia apologizes for any inconvenience experienced by the travelers due to Force Majeur situation that is beyond the control of Garuda Indonesia," he stated.
With regard to international flights, two return flights each on Denpasar-Tambaloka, Denpasar-Melbourne, Denpasar-Sydney, Denpasar-Perth, Denpasar-Narita (Tokyo), Denpasar-Kansai (Osaka), Denpasar-Seoul, and Denpasar-Hong Kong routes, and four flights on Denpasar-Singapore route were cancelled.
Furthermore, two flights each on Banyuwangi-Surabaya and Jember-Surabaya routes, two return flights each on Lombok-Sumbawa, Lombok-Denpasar, Lombok-Bima, Lombok-Makassar, and Lombok-Surabaya routes, and eight flights on Lombok-Jakarta route were also cancelled.
"In response to this situation, Garuda Indonesia is implementing a fee waiver policy on cancellation fees, rebooking/reroute fees, refund fees, administrayion fees, and other ticket change fees for passengers who had already booked scheduled flights to and from the four cities," he revealed.
Moreover, Garuda Indonesia is not accepting any bookings for flights on the aforementioned routes for Saturday, July 11.
Garuda Indonesia will be monitoring the situation and progress related to Mount Raung's activity and the readiness of each airport to resume flight operations, Rosan added.
"Garuda Indonesia apologizes for any inconvenience experienced by the travelers due to Force Majeur situation that is beyond the control of Garuda Indonesia," he stated.
Editor: Ade P Marboen
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