Angkasa Pura

Minister of Transportation Review the Implementation of the First Day of PCR Tests for Passengers from Overseas who Landed at Soekarno-Hatta Airport

Jakarta - Airplane passengers from abroad who land at Soekarno-Hatta Airport starting today, September 19, 2021, are required to undergo a COVID-19 PCR test before processing immigration to enter Indonesian territory. The aim is to anticipate and prevent the spread of new virus variants of Covid 19 including Varian Mu (B.1.621) entering Indonesia, through transportation nodes that serve international routes.

This is in line with the Circular Letter of the Ministry of Transportation Number 74/2021 concerning Guidelines for the Implementation of International Travel by Air Transportation During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi this afternoon, September 19, 2021, directly inspected international arrival procedures including the implementation of PCR tests for passengers arriving from abroad at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

The Minister of Transportation arrived at Terminal 3 at around 18.00 WIB and went straight to the International Arrivals Area, accompanied by, among others, the Director General of Air Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation Novie Riyanto, Chairman of Commission V of the DPR RI Lasarus, Head of TNI Lt. Gen. Joni Supriyanto, and President Director of PT Angkasa Pura II ( Persero) Muhammad Awaluddin.

The Minister of Transportation said that Soekarno-Hatta Airport had planned to handle international passenger arrivals following the mandatory PCR test at the airport upon arrival.

"Now it is correct, [there are a number of holding/holding bay points in Terminal 3 for passengers from abroad who have just arrived]," explained the Minister of Transportation.

The holding bay for international passengers who have just landed is to avoid crowds ahead of the PCR examination so that health protocols are maintained.

The Minister of Transportation also said that Soekarno-Hatta Airport could maintain good arrangements between the arrival gate for aircraft to dock at the terminal and the flow of passengers inside the terminal so that there would be no buildup.

The PCR test for international passengers who have just landed at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport is carried out by the test provider laboratory, where there are two test methods, namely RT-PCR, and the Molecular Rapid Test with the Real Time RT-PCR method.

President Director of AP II Muhammad Awaluddin said all Soekarno-Hatta Airport stakeholders were trying to maintain the implementation of the provisions in the SE Ministry of Transportation Number 74/2021 including the implementation of PCR tests at the airport for passengers from abroad.

As for today, the number of international passengers who arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport was around 1,400 people and all of them underwent the PCR test smoothly at the international arrivals area of ​​Terminal 3.

"AP II coordinates with airlines, ground handling, and other stakeholders so that management can be carried out both for aircraft operations on the air side, arrival gates at the terminal, as well as the situation inside the terminal, so that international arrival procedures in accordance with SE Ministry of Transportation Number 74/2021 can be carried out properly. good."

"We will maintain the arrangement of flight slots, parking locations or parking stands for aircraft, and holding bays inside Terminal 3 to ensure the smooth flow of international arrivals and the smooth implementation of PCR tests for passengers arriving from abroad," Muhammad Awaluddin explained.

Muhammad Awaluddin said that health protocols must be maintained under any conditions.

"We continue to monitor the situation at the International Arrivals Area, if necessary, the holding bay will be added to ensure health protocols are maintained and there is no buildup," explained Muhammad Awaluddin.

Currently, it is determined that there are 3 holding bays before international passengers carry out the PCR test, and 2 waiting bays for passengers to wait for the PCR test results and process the trip to the quarantine location.

Meanwhile, the number of PCR test booths for international passengers will be increased from the current 10 to 20.

The implementation of the PCR test at Soekarno-Hatta Airport for passengers who have just landed is in line with the stipulation of SE Number 74/2021 which in principle is to prevent an increase in COVID-19 transmission, including the new SARS-CoV-2 virus variant which has mutated into Alpha variant, variant Beta, Delta variant, Gamma variant and MU variant (B.1.621) as well as the potential for the development of other new variants.

For passengers who are identified as positive for COVID-19 after carrying out a PCR test at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, further handling will be carried out, including separation to quarantine locations so that transmission can be avoided.