Indonesian forest fires and haze disrupt flights and tour trips

Forest fires and haze across parts of Indonesia are disrupting flights and tourism, with 1,420 domestic flights cancelled or postponed as of 19 October, according to Ministry of Transportation data reported by TTG Asia. Tour operators in Kalimantan and Sumatra have seen bookings cancelled, and some groups heading to unaffected destinations have also pulled out.

Flight disruption

TTG Asia reports that the fires had affected 2,604 domestic flights by 19 October. Of these, 1,129 were delayed, 1,420 were cancelled or postponed, 23 were diverted to other airports, six returned to their departure airports and 26 had departure times brought forward.

A further 14 international flights were affected: 12 on the Singapore-Pontianak route and two on the Singapore-Palembang route. The airports named were:

• Iskandar Airport, Pangkalan Bun (Central Kalimantan)
• Supadio International Airport, Pontianak (West Kalimantan)
• Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport, Pekanbaru (Riau)
• Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport, Palembang (South Sumatra)
• Domine Eduard Osok Airport, Sorong (Southwest Papua)

Tour operators and hotels

Ricky Setiawanto of Panorama Destination told TTG Asia that haze at Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan led two groups to cancel this week. He said the park is a major draw for wildlife enthusiasts, particularly from Europe, who come to see orangutans. Kalimantan is only a small part of most tour packages, he added.

Joko Purwanto of Trans Borneo Adventure in East Kalimantan said all bookings for the past seven days were cancelled after flights stopped, many at short notice, though bookings through December were unaffected so far. Lalu Nawasier Tralala of Classic Tours Lombok said he is redirecting groups booked for Kalimantan and Sumatra to Flores and Sulawesi, especially travellers already in Indonesia. He said it is much harder to offer alternatives to those who come specifically for Kalimantan wildlife.

Pauline Suharno, president of the Association of the Indonesian Travel Agents, said members reported cancellations among Singaporean and Malaysian tour groups. Adjie Wahono of Aneka Kartika Tours and Travel Services said two Singaporean student groups of 60 had cancelled Jakarta trips planned for the end of October, and a German group has asked for written assurances on safety and air pollution following a warning from German authorities.

Hariyadi Sukamdani, chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association, said hotels in Sumatra and Kalimantan have lower occupancy and more cancellations, while other destinations are unaffected.

Government response

Forestry minister Raja Juli Antoni said the government is using aerial and ground operations, including weather modification, dry ice to support cloud formation and helicopter water bombing. Ground crews include military personnel, police, firefighters and volunteers.

What this means for travellers

• Flights to and from affected airports in Kalimantan, Sumatra and Southwest Papua may be delayed, diverted or cancelled at short notice, so check with your airline before heading to the airport.
• Singapore-Pontianak and Singapore-Palembang services have been affected.
• Those booked on wildlife-focused trips, such as orangutan visits in Tanjung Puting, should ask operators about conditions and rebooking options.
• Operators are offering alternatives such as Flores and Sulawesi to travellers already in Indonesia, and indoor activities have been discussed for some groups.
• Hotels and tours in destinations such as Jakarta are reported as not directly affected, though some groups have cancelled over haze concerns.

It is not yet clear how long the fires and haze will continue or whether later bookings will be affected.

Sources: TTG Asia.