X-URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com:8890/iscp_render?menu_name=hitlist_details&id=2011008
Two new local airlines begin their operations
Business News - June 26, 2000
JAKARTA (JP): Lion Airlines and Awair International launched their
inaugural flights last week, becoming the first of seven new airlines
to start operation.
President of PT Lion Mentari Air (Lion Airlines) Rusdy Kirana said on
Saturday that his airline would serve the Jakarta-Pontianak, West
Kalimantan, route twice a day starting June 30.
"The presence of Lion Airlines is in response to the improving market
condition of the airline industry," Rusdy was quoted as saying by
Antara news agency.
The two airlines are among seven to start operating this year. The
other five are Pelita Air Service, Indonesian Airlines Avi Patria,
Bayu Indonesia Air, Rusmindo Internusa Air and Jetayu Air.
Rusdy, who owns 49 percent of the company, said the airline's initial
investment of Rp 30 billion (US$3.4 million) was used to acquire
Boeing 737 aircraft.
He plans to add another three aircraft by next month, adding that the
airline would buy a Boeing 747 and an Airbus.
Aside from serving domestic routes, he said, the airline will also fly
to international destinations, such as to Singapore, Hong Kong and
Taiwan from Jakarta.
Lion marketing director Yoen K said that the airline's Boeing 737 was
the first large aircraft to serve the Jakarta-Pontianak route, which
is currently served by smaller planes like Fokker 28s.
"The entrance of our Boeing 737 will open up new options to customers
flying that route,' he said.
PT Airwagon International (Awair) announced it had successfully
launched its first flight serving Jakarta-Surabaya, East Java, on
Thursday last week.
The airline started serving the Jakarta-Surabaya route twice a day
using an Airbus A-310-300, and from Monday it will add a third flight
to the route, the company announced last week.
On Monday, the airline will also add two more two routes, serving
Jakarta-Medan, North Sumatra, and Jakarta-Balikpapan, East Kalimantan,
the airline said.
It said the airline's license allowed it to operate 27 domestic routes
and 28 international routes, the realization of which the company
expects to meet by 2002.
Awair president Rachmat Soebakir said he expected the company to
operate six aircraft and start serving international routes this year.
The new airlines stepped in after existing commercial airlines state-
owned Garuda Indonesia and Merpati Nusantara, and private carriers
Bouraq, Mandala and Dirgantara Air Service reduced their operations to
survive the economic crisis, which started in 1997. (bkm)
--- Lifetime _email_ subscription to all 5 (five) 'apakabar' lists now
available for a one-time donation of US$250 to support Indonesia
Publications' online projects. Email apakabar@radix.net to make all
arrangements. See http://www.indopubs.com for info on these lists. ---