World · Vietnam Bureau
Indonesia keeps airports open despite mounting wildfire crisis
Indonesian aviation authorities maintained normal operations at all airports despite severe haze from ongoing forest fires, though flight schedules were adjusted to account for hazardous weather conditions. The wildfires have triggered a significant public health emergency across the region.
LSN Vietnam ·
Indonesia's Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that all airports remain operational despite deteriorating air quality from widespread forest fires blanketing parts of Borneo and surrounding regions. Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa stated that while airports have not closed, flight schedules have been modified to accommodate weather-related safety considerations in areas most affected by the haze.
The forest fires have created a serious public health crisis, with Indonesia recording over 283,000 respiratory illness cases attributed to smoke exposure. More than 113,000 cases have been confirmed in Borneo alone, prompting concern among health authorities about the scale of the outbreak.
The transboundary nature of the haze has drawn regional attention, with Malaysia calling on ASEAN member states to coordinate a joint response to tackle the environmental and health crisis. The appeal underscores the cross-border impact of the fires, which have affected air quality across Southeast Asia.
Authorities in Indonesia continue monitoring conditions as efforts to contain the wildfires remain ongoing. The adjustment of flight operations represents a precautionary balance between maintaining essential air connectivity and ensuring passenger safety amid hazardous atmospheric conditions.
Photo: A peatland forest fire in Borneo, Indonesia, September 2019. Muhammad Pasya Ramadhan via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).