Jakarta airport stops commercial flights until June 1

By Iqbal Musyaffa and Nicky Aulia Widadio

JAKARTA (AA) – Indonesia’s largest and busiest airport has stopped providing services for all commercial flights from Friday onwards.

The Soekarno-Hatta Airport, located just outside the capital Jakarta, will remain in “Terminate Operation” status until at least June 1 and serve only special flights and cargos, state-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura II announced in a statement.

Febri Toga Simatupang, spokesperson for the authority, said the suspension of operations was in line with the government’s decision to ban travel ahead of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr to stem the spread of COVID-19.

He clarified that the airport’s cargo terminal will operate as usual, while special flights will include flights for the president, government officials, state guests, and representatives of international organizations.

“Flights for repatriation of Indonesian citizens and foreigners are still being served as well as law enforcement operations and emergency services for flight officers,” said Simatupang.

- ‘Zakat can be used in COVID-19 fight’

Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has issued a decree stating that donations to anti-coronavirus funds can be considered as zakat – obligatory charity and one of the five pillars of Islam – and infaq, a nonobligatory type of charity.

MUI official Asrorun Niam Sholeh said the decree was issued to increase contributions towards the fight against COVID-19.

“It can be used to fund the production of protective gears for healthcare front-liners and basic needs of affected communities,” he said in a statement issued on Friday.

“Zakat can be given in cash and in other forms such as food products, medicine and working capital.”

* Writing by Rhany Chairunissa Rufinaldo