Transportation Services in Kalimantan Continue Amid Forest Fires

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta — The Ministry of Transportation has confirmed that land, sea, and air transportation services in Kalimantan continue to operate normally amid forest and land fires (karhutla) in several areas. Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi said transportation operations continue to prioritize security and safety, while monitoring of forest fires and air quality is carried out regularly.

"Passenger movement and logistics distribution activities continue in accordance with applicable safety standards. However, monitoring of forest fire conditions, air quality, and their impact on the smooth operation of transportation services continues to be carried out regularly," Dudy said in Jakarta on Monday, August 24, 2026.

Based on field reports, smoke from forest and land fires in several areas of Kalimantan has begun to subside, including in East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan. He said transportation services generally continue to operate to ensure that public mobility and logistics distribution are properly served. Sea, air, and bus transportation services continue to operate as usual while prioritizing safety, security, and smooth travel.

"There have been some affected flights, particularly from Syamsudin Noor Airport in South Kalimantan. However, the situation is gradually returning to normal. We urge the public to always check for the latest information before traveling," he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transportation is supporting efforts to tackle forest and land fires by facilitating the use of foreign-registered aircraft for firefighting activities and disaster response.

Through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Transportation has processed 35 special permits for the use of foreign-registered aircraft.

Aircraft that have received special permits may be relocated to other areas requiring disaster response support, in accordance with Directorate General of Civil Aviation Decree No. KP 9 of 2021 on the Authorization for the Operation of Foreign Aircraft.

To ensure a rapid response to forest fire conditions that may change at any time, aircraft that have received special permits may also be repositioned to other disaster-affected areas. Operators are only required to notify the Directorate General of Civil Aviation within 1x24 hours regarding the repositioning of the aircraft.