Biak-Honolulu route

Biak-Honolulu route

Last summer I wanted to make a trip from Irian Jaya to Honolulu and back here to Irian Jaya. I struggled for several weeks to finally get a seat on the Biak-Honolulu flight, but then had to take a First Class rather than coach seat because everything was full. In July when I wanted to return I had to wait more than two weeks to get a seat back to Biak -- and then was forced to pay a Business Class price rather than coach.

Clearly Garuda Indonesia is not capable of taking care of the traffic it has from the United States to Irian Jaya and other parts of Indonesia. Now that Garuda Indonesia has terminated its Biak-Honolulu portion of the ticket, it demonstrates again how unable it is to serve the need of passengers -- or to respond to the central government's plan for tourism. Or is the theme: "Let's go archipelago" for all of Indonesia except Irian Jaya? Is there something wrong with this province? What should outsiders not see or experience?

I would like to suggest to those in charge that they consider giving this portion of Garuda Indonesia's route to another carrier.

For the sake of the local economy, tourism and those of us who make Irian Jaya our homes, this should be given serious consideration.

FR. TRENKOSO

Agata, Irian Jaya