Indonesian airline Lion Air is throwing its support on reviewing the current 70 percent passenger capacity limit and increasing it all the way to 100 percent.
According to Tempo.co, the low-cost carrier's group director of operations, Wisnu Wijayant on Wednesday (Sept 23) said they are prepared to collaborate with the Republic's Transportation Ministry and Health Ministry for further research to allow this.
The government has implemented the maximum 70 percent seat occupancy in flights as part of the Covid-19 physical restrictions.
Air Power Center of Indonesia's (APCI) aviation expert Chappy Hakim first pitched the suggestion to re-evaluate the passenger quota regulation without doing away health protocols.
The suggestion is based on the use of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in airplane cabins, believed to be able to filter 99 percent of particles and maintain a clean environment inside a passenger cabin.
Wisnu at the same time called on the government to introduce measures to support the sustainability of the Indonesian aviation industry.
He recommended making available stimulus for the industry as one of the measures.
Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi claimed the government has not found any Covid-19 infection cases spreading within the confines of commercial planes, believed to be attributed to strict health protocols implemented by the aviation industry.
"Air travel has become one of the sectors with the most rigid health security and (produced) relatively non-existent infection rate.
"Those who fly are not exposed to Covid-19," Budi Karya said on Tuesday (Sept 22).
He added that commercial aviation stakeholders have applied stringent rules on wearing of face masks, self-hygiene and physical distancing, which were adhered to by both passengers and industry players.
Budi Karya assured that the government will not tolerate those who violate health protocols in the aviation industry.
However, he noted that many are still reluctant to use air travel during the pandemic.