Darwin-Kupang flight opens

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Merpati Nusantara Airlines and Airnorth Regional Australian Airlines launched on Tuesday a twice weekly Kupang-Darwin flight.

East Nusa Tenggara Governor Piet A. Tallo, who inaugurated the maiden flight of the route at Kupang's El-Tari Airport, hoped the new route would boost international confidence in West Timor's security situation.

The route is expected to cut travel costs by 50 percent per trip to Darwin. Previously, travelers stopped over in Bali before continuing on to Darwin, which cost about US$500 per trip. -- JP