Banda Aceh-Penang route

Banda Aceh-Penang route

JAKARTA (JP): Private airline company Sabang-Merauke Air
Charter (SMAC) has operated a new daily direct flight between
Aceh's capital Banda Aceh and Malaysia's city of Penang since
Jan. 1, Antara reported yesterday.

A senior official at the Aceh provincial office, Razali Yusuf,
said the memorandum of understanding of the route was signed by
PT Duta Seulawah Megah, the operator of SMAC, and Malaysia's
Ultimate Way Sdn. Bhd. in Penang Wednesday.

Razali said the Seulawah 02 -- a Fokker-27 aircraft which
would fly the route -- would be the second flight servicing the
Banda Aceh-Penang route.

Malaysian private airline Pelangi Air had been servicing the
route twice a week, he added.

"I hope the additional flight will boost tourist arrivals to
Aceh and will improve economic cooperation between the two
neighboring countries," he said.

He said the Seulawah 02 would also fly from Banda Aceh to
Thailand three times a week starting sometime in the near future.
(gis)