March 18, 2026 | 01:02 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation denies rumors of halting all international flights due to the escalating tensions in the Middle East as a result of the Iran-Israel conflict.
"The news is not true," said Lukman F. Laisa, Director General of Air Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, as quoted from a written statement on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Lukman stated that the Ministry of Transportation is continuing to monitor international flights to Middle Eastern countries. The monitoring is carried out to ensure that passenger handling proceeds safely and in a coordinated manner, including for passengers who were stranded.
As of March 17, 2026, at 10:30 AM Western Indonesian Time (WIB), the Ministry of Transportation noted that two aircraft remain stranded in Indonesia. Both are Qatar Airways aircraft, with one unit at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, and one unit at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali.
Lukman added that several airspace regions in the affected area have begun to reopen, including the United Arab Emirates. Along with this reopening, some airlines have resumed operations, albeit in a limited capacity.
For example, Emirates has operated limited flights to and from Jakarta and Denpasar. However, the airline's operations were disrupted on March 16, 2026, due to issues at Dubai Airport's fuel farm facility, resulting in delays and schedule adjustments. The Ministry of Transportation stated that the handling of affected passengers continues, including the gradual transportation of previously stranded passengers.
"Etihad Airways has also reportedly resumed limited flights. The airline plans to increase frequencies as part of contingency measures, especially for the Jakarta and Denpasar routes to Abu Dhabi," said Lukman.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has been operating repatriation flights since March 8, 2026, and has begun gradually reopening limited services from Jakarta. Several options have been offered to affected passengers, including Umrah pilgrims, such as refunds, rescheduling, and rerouting to other airlines.
Lukman stated that as of March 16, 2026, there are no longer any stranded passengers in Jeddah being handled by Qatar Airways.
Furthermore, Lukman mentioned that direct flights to Saudi Arabia operated by Saudi Arabian Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and Flyadeal continue to operate normally and are not affected by the conflict.
Additionally, indirect flights through third countries, served by various international airlines, have returned to normal and are prepared to meet the travel needs of passengers.
"The public is advised to monitor official information from airlines and relevant authorities and adjust travel plans according to the latest developments," he said.
Read: Etihad Airways, Air Canada, and More Adjust UAE Flights Amid Iran War
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