Lion Air and Indonesia Air Asia face ban after breaches

Lion Air and Air Asia face bans on ground-based passenger-handling operations.

Lion Air and Air Asia delivered international passengers to domestic ­terminals.

Two of Indonesia’s largest carriers face suspension of ground-handling operations at two airports after delivering international passengers to domestic ­terminals, compromising immigration controls.

Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry said it would suspend ground-based passenger-handling operations at Jakarta’s main airport for Lion Air, the nation’s largest budget carrier, and in Bali for Indonesia Air Asia.

The ministry said the suspensions would begin next week to give the carriers time to seek new, third-party operators for ground operations.

Both airlines yesterday said their flights were operating as scheduled.

Lion Air director Edward Sirait said “we have a Plan B” for ground-handling once the suspension begins. Indonesia Air Asia didn’t respond to requests to comment about its plans.