In response to media queries on a report in CNN-Indonesia of 24 November 2015 in which Indonesian Cabinet Ministers were quoted as saying that Singapore had no objections to Indonesia’s intention to manage the entire Indonesian airspace and that Singapore supported Indonesia’s intention to take over the airspace in three to four years, the MFA Spokesman said,
“The report is inaccurate. DPM Teo did not agree to the suggestion. The subject of the Flight Information Region (FIR) came up during the dinner hosted by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan on 23 November 2015. DPM Teo did not, and could not have agreed on such a major issue over a brief informal discussion during dinner.
The administration of the FIR is not an issue of sovereignty. It is based on operational considerations for the provision of effective air traffic control services, with paramount priority on aviation safety. DPM Teo emphasised that this is a complex technical and operational issue under the ambit of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and involves many other countries and airlines which use the busy airspace covered by the FIR. These points were reiterated by DPM Teo in meetings with several Indonesian leaders during DPM Teo’s visit to Jakarta from 23 to 25 November 2015, including Coordinating Minister Luhut Pandjaitan and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, when the FIR issue was raised. The Indonesian leaders recognised that the management of airspace for technical and operational purposes is not an issue of sovereignty. They also agreed that the paramount concern should be the safety, efficiency and smooth operation of the FIR. There are many instances where the territorial airspace of a country is managed by the air traffic authorities in another. For example, Indonesia also provides air traffic services in airspace which belongs to other countries.”
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
26 NOVEMBER 2015