Flights cancelled due to haze in Riau

RIAU. Several flights from Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam, Riau Islands, to Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport in Pekanbaru, Riau, were cancelled on Monday due to low visibility caused by the haze in Riau.

Meanwhile, flights from other cities were rerouted to Batam.

Hang Nadim airport’s general affairs division head, Suwarso, said two out of three Lion Air flights departing for Pekanbaru on Monday were cancelled due to thick haze enveloping the Sultan Syarif Kasim airport while one Lion flight was allowed to depart.

“A heavy haze engulfing Riau has caused two flight cancellations while one flight from Jakarta was rerouted to Batam. Meanwhile, the conditions at Hang Nadim airport are still normal, not yet affected by haze clouds from Riau,” Suwarso told The Jakarta Post.

Citilink flight QG-936 was rerouted from Sultan Syarim Kasim with 144 passengers on board and landed in Batam at 8:46 a.m. local time before flying back to Pekanbaru at 11:22 a.m.

“Several flights were also rerouted to Batam from Pekanbaru yesterday due to the haze,” said Suwarso.

Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) head at Hang Nadim airport, Philip Mustamu, said the number of hotspots caused by land fires in Riau had continued to increase. He said wind from Riau had been moving in a southwesterly direction, meaning that haze would not affect Batam and Singapore, which are located to the east of Riau.

“Batam and Singapore are still safe from the haze; however, if the number of hotspots does not decline before March or April, it could pose a threat for Batam and Singapore as there will be a change in wind direction in those months,” said Philip.

He said the current visibility level at Hang Nadim airport was still ideal, reaching between 9,000 and 10,000 meters with a wind speed of 20-30 kilometers per hour. (Fadli)