AWAIR Internasional set to fly
AWAIR Internasional set to fly
JAKARTA (JP): AWAIR Internasional will take off as the first
new scheduled airline company in the country since 1990 when it
launches its Jakarta-Surabaya and Jakarta-Medan services next
month.
"We see this year as the most opportune time to provide a new
dynamic in the air transportation industry despite the still
nascent economic recovery," AWAIR chief executive officer Rachmat
Soebakir said on Tuesday.
Soebakir, who claims more than 30 years of experience in
airplane chartering services, said the airline was awaiting an
air operator license from the Ministry of Communications.
"We have leased two Airbus-A-310s from Swiss Air that is well-
known for its most reliable maintenance quality, and one of the
jets is now being painted with our logo at the Garuda maintenance
center in Cengkareng."
He added the company was directed by a management team
consisting of former directors of national flag carrier Garuda
Indonesia.
Kussuyono serves as commercial director, his last position at
Garuda before he retired. Yassir Ismail is operation director,
also the same position he held at Garuda before his retirement,
while Asep Chandra, formerly director of quality control at
Garuda, serves as technical director, and Hadianto manages the
financial department.
From its name, Soebakir said AWAIR Internasional was designed
to be a national airline with both domestic and international
services.
"With a quality competitive edge, AWAIR International will
accomodate the needs and wants of airline consumers with a
nationwide network backup to enhance the visits of foreign
travelers to Indonesia," he said of his company's mission
statement.
Soebakir said he was fully aware of the intense competition
ahead as five other domestic scheduled airlines were set to
operate within the next few months.
"This vast archipelagic country is a sufficiently large market
to accommodate more than 10 scheduled airlines. Moreover, we also
are aiming for the international market," he added.
Domestic airlines also preparing to launch scheduled services
are Indonesian Airlines, Lion Mentari Airlines, Pelita Air
Services, Rusmindo Internusa Airlines and Bayu Indonesia
Airlines.
Domestic routes are currently plied by Garuda, state-owned
Merpati Nusantara Airlines, Mandala Airlines and Bouraq Airlines.
Sempati, formerly the largest private airline that was jointly
owned by former president Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo Mandala
Putra and Mohamad "Bob" Hasan, went bankrupt immediately after
Soeharto's ouster amid the economic crisis in May 1998.
AWAIR's article of incorporation initially listed Abdurrahman
Wahid, then chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization,
as a shareholder.
"But Gus Dur (Abdurrahman's nickname) resigned from AWAIR
immediately after his election as the fourth Indonesian president
last October," Soebakir said.
The company is owned by three businessmen from Surabaya and
Jakarta, he added.
Soebakir lised the Airbus A-310's advantage of passenger
capacity of 175, including 16 in first class and 54 in business
class, and the capability to carry 12 tons of cargo.
"This freight capacity will surely facilitate interisland or
export of goods," he added.
Kussuyono said AWAIR would gradually expand its services to
other major cities such as Batam and Ujungpandang and to
international destinations in Taiwan and Australia using leased
Airbus A-310, Boeing B-737 and Boeing B-777.