Manado, North Sulawesi, Sept 10 (Antara) - The national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia finally opened the Timika-Sorong-Manado route, starting from September 9, 2014, noted Garuda regional office spokesperson Rosyinah Manaf.
"Starting from September 9, 2014, Garuda takes over the Timika-Sorong-Manado route, which was last operated in February by Merpati Nusantara," Rosyinah remarked during a gala dinner organized for the inaugural flight at Sintesa Peninsula Hotel here on Tuesday night.
Merpati, a government airline company, earlier served the Timika-Sorong-Manado route, but it stopped operations after encountering financial difficulties.
The operations in the region were halted since February, and the transport ministry has offered several routes left vacant by Merpati to other airlines.
She noted that Garuda operates the CRG-1000 plane with 84 economy class seats and 12 business class seats to serve the new route from Timika to Sorong and Manado in North Sulawesi.
Air transportation users have welcomed the positive news of Garuda commencing operations since September 9 on the Timika-Sorong-Manado route with three flights per week.
Meanwhile, Head of the Mimika air communications office John Rettob noted in Timika that the Moses Kilangin airport authority in Timika has agreed to a time slot arrangement for the two airlines.
However, Rettob stated that as of now, Sriwijaya Air had not yet coordinated with the Mimika district administration on its proposal to serve the Timika-Sorong-Manado route, and therefore, Garuda will start operating the route.
According to Garuda General Manager for the Timika branch Dedy Setiadi, the company has acquired the time slot from Timika`s Moses Kilangin Airport to operate the route.
Setiadi pointed out that the Timika-Sorong-Manado route will be served with three flights per week since the demand for this route is significantly high.
He remarked that Garuda has also acquired a time slot from the Sorong Airport to operate a similar type of airplane to serve the Jayapura-Sorong-Manado route.
"Starting from September 9, 2014, Garuda takes over the Timika-Sorong-Manado route, which was last operated in February by Merpati Nusantara," Rosyinah remarked during a gala dinner organized for the inaugural flight at Sintesa Peninsula Hotel here on Tuesday night.
Merpati, a government airline company, earlier served the Timika-Sorong-Manado route, but it stopped operations after encountering financial difficulties.
The operations in the region were halted since February, and the transport ministry has offered several routes left vacant by Merpati to other airlines.
She noted that Garuda operates the CRG-1000 plane with 84 economy class seats and 12 business class seats to serve the new route from Timika to Sorong and Manado in North Sulawesi.
Air transportation users have welcomed the positive news of Garuda commencing operations since September 9 on the Timika-Sorong-Manado route with three flights per week.
Meanwhile, Head of the Mimika air communications office John Rettob noted in Timika that the Moses Kilangin airport authority in Timika has agreed to a time slot arrangement for the two airlines.
However, Rettob stated that as of now, Sriwijaya Air had not yet coordinated with the Mimika district administration on its proposal to serve the Timika-Sorong-Manado route, and therefore, Garuda will start operating the route.
According to Garuda General Manager for the Timika branch Dedy Setiadi, the company has acquired the time slot from Timika`s Moses Kilangin Airport to operate the route.
Setiadi pointed out that the Timika-Sorong-Manado route will be served with three flights per week since the demand for this route is significantly high.
He remarked that Garuda has also acquired a time slot from the Sorong Airport to operate a similar type of airplane to serve the Jayapura-Sorong-Manado route.