Haze prompts Jambi airport closure

The Jakarta Post 15 Sep 09;

Sultan Thaha Saifudin Airport in Jambi was closed for four hours Tuesday due to thick haze that reduced visibility -- the latest in a series of airport closures across Sumatra this year.

Airport information officer Olan Simanjuntak said visibility on Tuesday morning had fallen to less than 800 meters, far below the normal level of 1,800 meters.

"We’ve had to close the airport until 10:30 a.m. because of the thick haze; all flight activities, departures and arrivals, will be delayed for the time being," Olan said as quoted by Antara.

He added a Lion Air flight to Jakarta, scheduled for takeoff at 7:10 a.m., had to be delayed for four hours. Likewise, the 7:45 a.m. arrival of a Garuda flight from Jakarta was also delayed.

Arrivals of Batavia Air and Sriwijaya Air flights from the capital were also delayed. The two airlines are awaiting confirmation from Jambi about the haze condition, Olan said.