JAKARTA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has reinforced its ban on foreign airlines offering domestic flights through international connections, particularly when sold via online travel agents (OTAs), the Transportation Ministry said.
In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry's director general of civil aviation, Lukman Laisa, stressed that the practice, known as indirect cabotage, violates the 2009 Aviation Law No. 1, which prohibits foreign carriers from transporting passengers between two points within Indonesia.
"This practice not only violates national sovereignty and harms domestic airlines, but also risks passengers who may need to make self-arranged international connections without airline assistance," he said.
Recent cases reportedly included flights from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten province to Kualanamu International Airport in North Sumatra province, operated by foreign carriers with layovers in Malaysia or Singapore.
The practice, he explained, primarily benefits foreign carriers while undermining government efforts to maintain affordable domestic air travel and support national aviation businesses.
His department has coordinated with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism to impose sanctions on OTAs that violate the regulations.
He also urged travelers to carefully review fare details, report any discrepancies, and consider purchasing tickets directly from airlines to ensure safety and convenience. ■