Merpati to continue negotiations on leasing<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The new president of Merpati Nusantara, Budiarto
\nSubroto, said yesterday that the company will continue
\nnegotiations with PT Arthasaka Nusaphala on the controversial
\nleasing of 16 locally-made CN-235-200 aircraft.<\/p>\n
\"Using domestic products is our priority. We will soon
\ncomplete negotiations based on commercial calculations,\" Budiarto
\nsaid after a ceremony transferring Merpati's management from his
\npredecessor, Ridwan Fataruddin.<\/p>\n
Budiarto, 51, was formerly the commercial director of the
\nairline and an assistant to Minister of Transportation Haryanto
\nDhanutirto. He was officially installed as Merpati's president
\nlast Friday, replacing the 57-year-old Ridwan.<\/p>\n
Speculation of Ridwan's replacement ran rampant after he
\nannounced last month that Merpati would not lease the 16 CN-235-
\n200 aircraft because the monthly leasing fee of US$110,000 per
\nunit was commercially unfeasible.<\/p>\n
Budiarto said yesterday that negotiations with Arthasaka are
\ncontinuing and Merpati is preparing to expand its routes.<\/p>\n
\"We are considering to open more routes, for instance, from
\nPalembang in South Sumatra to other cities on the island, like
\nPangkalpinang, Jambi, Lhokseumawe and Gunung Sitoli,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Strategy<\/p>\n
Budiarto declined to comment on Ridwan's suggestion that the
\ngovernment purchase part or all of the 16 CN-235-200 aircraft and
\nconfer them to Merpati -- as the government does with the 14 CN-
\n235-10s currently operated by the airline.<\/p>\n
\"I must study the proposal thoroughly,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Director General of Air Transportation Zainuddin Sikado
\nrecently divulged that the 16 CN-235-200s must be leased because
\nthe government does not have the money to buy them.<\/p>\n
Budiarto pledged yesterday that he will improve Merpati's
\nperformance, including its service and financial structure.<\/p>\n
\"We will consolidate by increasing the utilization rates of
\nour fleet, safety, on-time schedules and professionalism,\" he
\npromised. \"We will also improve our alliances with other
\ntransportation firms, including Garuda Indonesia, our parent
\ncompany.\"<\/p>\n
He added that the company plans to simplify its fleet to cut
\nexpenses.<\/p>\n
Merpati now operates nine different types of aircraft, the
\nBoeing 737-200, ATP, Casa-212, Twin Otter, Fokker-28, Fokker-27,
\nFokker-100, CN-235 and DC-9. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/merpati-to-continue-negotiations-on-leasing-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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