AWAIR Internasional set to fly<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): AWAIR Internasional will take off as the first
\nnew scheduled airline company in the country since 1990 when it
\nlaunches its Jakarta-Surabaya and Jakarta-Medan services next
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
"We see this year as the most opportune time to provide a new
\ndynamic in the air transportation industry despite the still
\nnascent economic recovery," AWAIR chief executive officer Rachmat
\nSoebakir said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Soebakir, who claims more than 30 years of experience in
\nairplane chartering services, said the airline was awaiting an
\nair operator license from the Ministry of Communications.<\/p>\n
"We have leased two Airbus-A-310s from Swiss Air that is well-
\nknown for its most reliable maintenance quality, and one of the
\njets is now being painted with our logo at the Garuda maintenance
\ncenter in Cengkareng."<\/p>\n
He added the company was directed by a management team
\nconsisting of former directors of national flag carrier Garuda
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Kussuyono serves as commercial director, his last position at
\nGaruda before he retired. Yassir Ismail is operation director,
\nalso the same position he held at Garuda before his retirement,
\nwhile Asep Chandra, formerly director of quality control at
\nGaruda, serves as technical director, and Hadianto manages the
\nfinancial department.<\/p>\n
From its name, Soebakir said AWAIR Internasional was designed
\nto be a national airline with both domestic and international
\nservices.<\/p>\n
"With a quality competitive edge, AWAIR International will
\naccomodate the needs and wants of airline consumers with a
\nnationwide network backup to enhance the visits of foreign
\ntravelers to Indonesia," he said of his company's mission
\nstatement.<\/p>\n
Soebakir said he was fully aware of the intense competition
\nahead as five other domestic scheduled airlines were set to
\noperate within the next few months.<\/p>\n
"This vast archipelagic country is a sufficiently large market
\nto accommodate more than 10 scheduled airlines. Moreover, we also
\nare aiming for the international market," he added.<\/p>\n
Domestic airlines also preparing to launch scheduled services
\nare Indonesian Airlines, Lion Mentari Airlines, Pelita Air
\nServices, Rusmindo Internusa Airlines and Bayu Indonesia
\nAirlines.<\/p>\n
Domestic routes are currently plied by Garuda, state-owned
\nMerpati Nusantara Airlines, Mandala Airlines and Bouraq Airlines.<\/p>\n
Sempati, formerly the largest private airline that was jointly
\nowned by former president Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo Mandala
\nPutra and Mohamad "Bob" Hasan, went bankrupt immediately after
\nSoeharto's ouster amid the economic crisis in May 1998.<\/p>\n
AWAIR's article of incorporation initially listed Abdurrahman
\nWahid, then chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization,
\nas a shareholder.<\/p>\n
"But Gus Dur (Abdurrahman's nickname) resigned from AWAIR
\nimmediately after his election as the fourth Indonesian president
\nlast October," Soebakir said.<\/p>\n
The company is owned by three businessmen from Surabaya and
\nJakarta, he added.<\/p>\n
Soebakir lised the Airbus A-310's advantage of passenger
\ncapacity of 175, including 16 in first class and 54 in business
\nclass, and the capability to carry 12 tons of cargo.<\/p>\n
"This freight capacity will surely facilitate interisland or
\nexport of goods," he added.<\/p>\n
Kussuyono said AWAIR would gradually expand its services to
\nother major cities such as Batam and Ujungpandang and to
\ninternational destinations in Taiwan and Australia using leased
\nAirbus A-310, Boeing B-737 and Boeing B-777.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/awair-internasional-set-to-fly-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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