All Indonesia flights, ferries suspended until after Ramadan
Indonesia has imposed a transportation lockdown across the 17,000 islands that make up the world largest archipelago.
In a bid to stop people travelling home to celebrate the end of Ramadan next month, it has suspended all sea and air services.
Novie Riyanto Rahardjo, the transport ministry’s director general of aviation said all passenger flights will be halted from April 24 until June 1.
"It may be extended depending on the circumstances," Novie said.
All ferry services will be banned until June 8, said sea transportation director general Agus Purnomo.
Airports will remain open for repatriation flights, cargo services and for emergency and law enforcement operations.
Intercity train services are also halted.
The mass exodus of tens of millions of people returning to their home villages for the Idul Fitri holiday, known as ‘Mudik’ is a huge annual event with overcrowded buses, ferries, trains and full flights.
The government has moved to halt any mass movement to curb the spread of Covid-19 which is still surging across the vast nation.
Indonesia has nearly 8,000 Covid-19 cases with 647 deaths so far.
The transport ban severely impacts the already struggling hotel industry.
The Idul Fitri holiday is also a popular period for domestic leisure travel when families often go on short breaks or staycations.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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