REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesian Consumers Organization (YLKI) protests PT Metro Batavia and Batavia Air over operation cease and considers it as violation towards laws on consumers.

"PT Metro Batavia violates Laws No 8/1999 on consumers protection. In the article 16, the company is prohibited to breach order and agreement," Management of YLKI, Tulus Abadi, said on Friday. He added that by stopping operation, Batavia Air violated the article.

Based on Article 62 Section 2. Batavia Air can be charged up to two years in prison or 500 million IDR fines. 

Abadi said Batavia Air should have been continued its operation since many consumers have already bought Batavia's tickets. Batavia air still has 14 out of 33 airplanes. Batavia should have used the remaining fleet to transport the passengers.

Jakarta court on Wednesday considered PT Metro Batavia bankrupt as it failed to pay its debt. Metro Batavia failed to pay leasing fees worth 4.688 million USD upon deadline on December 13, 2012, to International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) for a fleet. Batavia has seven days to decide whether to appeal the verdict.

Acting Chairman of YLKI, Sudaryatmo, suggested PT Metro Batavia to appeal the verdict. "They must think of the consumers," he said. PT Metro Batavia can also propose truce to the ILFC and raise the funds or seek new investors to pay the debt.

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