Under such circumstances, no plane of any type would be able to land at and take off from the airport
Dumai, Riau (ANTARA News) - Thick smoke blanketed Pinang Kampai Airport in Dumai city, Riau province, on Sunday morning, putting a number of flights under a threat of delay.

Until 09.20 a.m. thick smoke originating from forest and woodland fires still covered the airport, causing visibility to fall to 500 meters, the airport`s chief, Irvan said.

Under such circumstances, no plane of any type would be able to land at and take off from the airport, he said.

At least three planes were scheduled to land at the airport on Sunday. One of the planes was a Pelita Air Fokker 50 plane chartered by PT Chevron Pasific Indonesia (CPI).

"The plane is scheduled to take off from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta at around 10.00 a.m. and arrive in Dumai at around 11.20 a.m. But if the air condition remains as it is we will ask the plane to postpone its flight," he said.

He said another Pelita Air Fokker 50 plane from Halim Perdanakusuma airport was scheduled to arrive in Dumai at 02.00 p.m. Meanwhile, a Sky Aviation Fokker 50 plane which serves the Batam-Dumai route would land at the airport at 04.00 p.m.

"The last two flights will not likely be delayed because visibility will reach more than 2,000 meters in the afternoon," he said.

(ANT.S012)



Editor: Ade P Marboen
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