JAKARTA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU)
may lift its air travel ban on Indonesian airliners from entering its territory
at the middle of this year, Indonesian state spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said
here Friday.
The group has forbidden 51 Indonesian airliners,
including the leading carrier of Garuda, from entering its territory since July
6, 2007, following a rampant air accidents that killed more than 250 people. The
group extended the ban in November in Brussels last year.
The spokesman made the statement after Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with the head of the group delegation to
Indonesia Julian Wilson at the State Palace here.
"Julian said that the EU was optimistic that at the
middle of this year the travel ban can be lifted," Dino said.
"The lift could be in March or June," he added.
In cooperation with the EU Indonesia has made
improvements on its flight safety standard prompting the decline of accidents.
On Dec. 17 the country's parliament passed a new
regulation on aviation, which adopts strict safety standards. The new rules,
which have complied with all elements requested by the International Civil
Aviation Organization, were hailed by the EU, Indonesian transport minister
Jusman Syafii Djamal has said.
President Susilo welcomed the plan, saying that the
ban had been imposed too long.
"It disturbs our aviation development and tourism
promotion," President Susilo was quoted by Dino as saying.
Indonesia has been able to decline air accidents in
recent years, compared to three years ago. Stringent controls on the aviation
have been implemented, prompting the grounding or suspension of scores of
airliners.
On Nov. 28, 2007, the EU revoked its ban on the
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Blue Wing Airlines of Surinam, but
still put its restriction on Indonesia airliners.
Plane is a favorite transport means in the sprawling
archipelago country with over 230 million population, but the lack of safety
standards had triggered many accidents years ago.
