EU to lift or keep flight ban on RI`s airlines in two days

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The European Union (EU) is expected to decide whether or not it will lift its flight ban on the Indonesian airlines in two or three days, Transportation Minister Jusman Sjafii Djamal said.

"So, it could be Thursday or Friday," he said after a meeting between a number of ministers and the transportation commission of the House of Representatives (DPR) here on Monday.

He said the EU discussed Indonesia`s proposal for the lifting of flight ban on the Indonesian airlines at a meeting on July 10-11.

The Indonesian delegation to the meeting was led by Director General of Air Transportation Budhi Muliawan Suyitno, accompanied by representatives from four airline companies, the minister said.

It seemed the EU had used much of their time at the meeting to listen to Indonesia`s explanations, he said.

"This is a good signal," he said.

"The representatives from the four airline companies, namely Garuda, Mandala, Premi Air and Airfast were also given a chance to report progress in the implementation of their respective safety programs," he said.

But he refused to speculate that the EU was on the verge of lifting its flight ban on the Indonesian airlines.

"Neither do I know the results of the EU meeting. Normally, the EU publishes the results of its meeting through its website," he said. end (*)