Four Airlines Seeking Traffic Rights to Indonesia

(7/28/2008)

Four foreign airlines have declared their interest in commencing scheduled flight services to Indonesia: Shanghai Airlines (PRC), China Eastern (PRC), Aeroflot (Russia) and Mohan Air (Iran).

A Director General of Civil Aviation, Tri S. Sunoko, confirmed to Bisnis Indonesia that his office has received formal applications for traffic rights in Indonesia by the afore mentioned airlines.

The Iranian private carrier Mohan Air has been granted flight permits and is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Indonesia soon.

"We are processing permits for Shanghai Airline and China Eastern and are in the process of inspecting their aircraft," said Sunoko. He also confirmed that Russia's Aeroflot is seeking permission for cargo flights.

Sunoko credited the success of Indonesia’s tourism promotion programs and its current target of 7 million foreign visitors nation-wide in 2008 as helping to stimulate new interest in Indonesian as a flight destination.

To support national tourism the Government recently increased from three to four flights a day the number of scheduled services allowed Singapore Airlines on the Denpasar – Singapore route.

Sapta Nirwandar, the Director General of Marketing for the Department of Culture and Tourism said the government is focusing on increasing flight capacities, opening new air routes between America and Europe to Indonesia, and improving the quality of Indonesian destinations. Sapta also said that the government is also seeking to further ease the visa on arrival facility currently enjoyed by the citizens of 63 countries.