RI airlines should continue to improve, says minister

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal said Thursday the country's airlines should strive to upgrade their services following the European Union's updated list of banned airlines.

"The European Commission is not yet sure our country's airlines have improved and consider the list a preliminary move," the minister said as quoted by detik.com.

"We still need to convince (the commission) we will continue to improve," he said.

The European Commission on Wednesday renewed its list of airlines banned from flying across the 27-nation bloc, including 51 Indonesian airlines.

The banned Indonesian airlines included flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, Adam Sky Connection Airlines, Air Pacific Utama, Gatari Air Service, Air Asia, Lion Mentari Airlines, Mandala Airlines, Merpati Nusantara, Pelita Air Service, Sriwijaya Air, Riau Airlines and Trigana Air.

In the updated list, the EU lifted its ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Surinam's Blue Wing Airlines.

Jusman said he was disappointed the EU had not taken Indonesian airlines off the list.

"If they have noted our improvements, why didn't they take our airlines off the list? Even our President and the EU president had agreed to shorten the ban period," he said.

The minister said he would ask the Indonesian ambassador to the EU to convey his disappointment over the decision.

He said he would also ask the President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for support.

Separately, presidential spokesperson Dino Patti Djalal said the Indonesian and EU governments were committed to restoring their aviation relationship.

He said negotiations between the Transportation Ministry, the carriers and the EU auditors were ongoing.

"There should be another assessment prior to the commission's next meeting in January 2008. We hope it could be accelerated with support from (EU President) Jose Manuel Barroso.

"If the EU has not lifted the ban by 2008, we will protest."

Despite the ongoing ban, Garuda Indonesia said it would prepare to reopen its routes to European countries.

"Based on the commission's audit results, Garuda has met the international aviation standards, even though there are still minor problems," said Garuda spokesperson Pudjobroto.

"While waiting for the ban to be lifted, we have been planning our service routes to Europe," he said.

He said the flag carrier would discuss the matter with the commission and support the Indonesian government's move.

The government has recommended that Garuda, Mandala Airlines and Prime Air be removed from the list.