Awair to resume operation

JAKARTA: Indonesia's domestic airline company, Awair, is planning to resume operations in August with six narrow-bodied airplanes, its spokesman, Arifin Hutabarat, said here Saturday.

Awair suspended its operations last March when it returned its three airplanes to its leasing company, Singapore's Region.

"Awair will lease two airplanes each month from June to August. After the company completes its restructurization, it could operate again with six airplanes," Arifin said.

The six airplanes will be used to serve routes to Jakarta, Surabaya (East Java), Medan (North Sumatra), Denpasar (Bali) and some small cities in Indonesia.

"Actually, Awair is ready to operate with only two airplanes. But with the tight competition, we decided to operate with at least five or six airplanes," he said.

Before it suspended its operations, Awair was using two wide- bodied Airbus A-310s and one Airbus A-320.

"The three airplanes had been returned to the leasing company, Singapore's Region. Awair is currently negotiating with some leasing companies," Arifin said.--Antara