Social media Instagram was recently enlivened by uploads about small children on the plane alone without their parents accompanying them.
The post, which was uploaded by the nova_fauzi account, shows a video when the child falls asleep and then a flight attendant confirms his bed.
The video is known to have been recorded during a flight from Banjarmasin to Jakarta on Friday, July 24, 2020.
The child was reportedly named Abdurrahman. From the viral post, the clothes of the flight attendants that are seen are thought to be uniforms from the Lion Air airline.
Corporate Communications Strategic of Lion Air Group Danang Mandala Prihantoro explained Lion Air group does provide flight services for children.
“So far, Lion Air Group owns and facilitates the ‘Unaccompanied Minor (UM)” service, the category of children who travel by airplane unaccompanied by their parents or siblings (unaccompanied), “he said.
The age limit for children who fly unaccompanied by parents for Lion Air is children aged 6-12 years.
Regulation of the Minister of Transportation The regulations governing children can board their own plane without an escort are regulated in the Minister of Transportation Regulation (PMP) Number 185 of 2015.
If we look at the regulation, it is explained that unaccompanied children can be transported at most 10 percent of the total aircraft capacity used per flight.
The obligations of airlines that provide services for unaccompanied flying children must:
- Provide officers who handle unaccompanied children (unaccompanied minor) in the pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight processes, including transit or transfer
- Make a report of handover from the accompanying family to the officer, and from the officer to the family who picks up
- Make a report of handover between officers at each service point (service point)
- Provide labeling UM mark on unaccompanied child passengers and on cabin and checked baggage.
- Fill out a form for children who want to fly alone,
Danang conveyed how, parents / adults take the child concerned to the airport to fill out the form completely, including filling in clearly who picks up the child.
Danang explained, later on when on the plane they will get priority seats in the front row.
The crew will take the child to the ground officer, then the child will be escorted to the pick-up according to the identity printed.
“This UM will get a special sign (identification) that includes or explains that the person concerned is flying unaccompanied,” said Danang.
Regarding ticket prices, according to Danang, it is given according to the category of children according to their age.
Operations and handling of Lion Air UM during the pandemic will continue by implementing health protocols.
