Uncertain whether Qatar Airways’ licence will be suspended in Indonesia, Indonesian outbound agents are concerned they might suffer losses from being forced to cancel packages especially with the peak Eid al-Fitr week coming up.
After a blockade was enforced against Qatar by its Gulf neighbours, Indonesia’s minister of transportation Budi Karya Sumadi stated Indonesia will temporarily suspend Qatar Airways’ flight licence, only to call it off the next day.
Rudiana, WITA tour director sales and marketing, said Umrah travellers are the main concern in the coming season. Although the government may divert the flight to other airlines, he opined “this is difficult and tedious work” in the high season.
In such a situation, the agency might have to cancel flights and packages despite incurring a loss.
“The government’s standpoint is questionable and creates confusion,” remarked ASITA Bali’s Ketut Ardana, who expects Bali’s inbound tourism to be affected as it is connected to Doha by Qatar Airways’ thrice-daily flights.
