Indonesia's government is threatening to shut several of the country's airlines over safety deficiencies in the wake of a series of accidents.
The transport ministry has reviewed the country's carriers and classified them into three categories. No airlines are in its top category, while seven in the lowest band have been ordered to improve systems within three months or face the loss of their air operator's certificates.
Fast-growing Adam Air is one of those seven. In January one of its Boeing 737-400s crashed into the sea on a domestic flight, killing all 102 people on board, and in February one of its 737-300s was damaged in a hard landing at Surabaya airport.
Indonesia's domestic market has seen phenomenal traffic growth over the past five years which has put pressure on regulatory systems. The government says it is stepping up oversight of local airlines and may introduce rules limiting the age of their aircraft.
Source: Airline Business
