Bali Airport's Operations Temporarily Suspended During Nyepi Day

MANGUPURA, NusaBali.com - Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport will be non-operational for 24 hours to support the celebration of Silence Day (Nyepi) in the 1944 Saka Year, State-Owned Airport Operator Angkasa Pura's (AP I's) official stated.

The temporary operational closure of Bali Airport will be in effect from March 3, 2022, at 6:00 local time to March 4, 2022, at 6:00 local time.

"For 24 hours, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport will temporarily close its operations during Nyepi Day, except for emergency flight landings or medical evacuation flights," Stakeholder Relations Manager of AP I at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport Taufan Yudhistira stated here on  Wednesday.

Yudhistira noted that the temporary closure of Bali Airport's operations had earlier been coordinated with all relevant parties: airlines and other stakeholders.

Despite temporarily closing its operations, AP I will keep officers on standby at the airport to handle and take precautionary measures in case of emergency flights, Yudhistira stated.

"Stand-by officers at the airport during Nyepi Day will comprise officers from AP I, AirNav Indonesia in the Denpasar Branch, Denpasar Port Health Office (KKP) Class 1, Airport Authority Region IV, and other related parties. The same system will be applied for the temporary closure of Bali Airport as was followed in the previous years," he noted.

Yudhistira later confirmed that the first flight to operate after the 24-hour airport closure was planned on Friday, March 4, 2022, at around 7:00 local time.

During Nyepi Day, Hindus will undergo Catur Brata seclusion with four prohibitions: Amati Karya, or not working; Amati Geni, or not lighting a fire; Amati Lelungan, or not traveling; and Amati Lelanguan, or abstaining from enjoyable activities.

Earlier, the Bali police had readied 6,125 personnel across nine regions in the province to secure the 2022 Nyepi celebrations.

Ahead of the Nyepi celebration, the Bali police will prioritize traditional village-based security by collaborating with local traditional village security officers, or 'pecalang.' *ant