Garuda gets new routes

Garuda gets new routes

JAKARTA (JP): The government has approved the increase of Garuda Indonesia's domestic routes from 12 to 34, Director General of Air Transportation Zainuddin Sikado said yesterday.

He said the new routes include those linking Medan in North Sumatra with Surabaya in East Java, Medan with Ujungpandang in South Sulawesi and Surabaya with Pontianak in West Kalimantan.

He said the flag carrier's new routes, to be introduced gradually, will not overlap with those served by its subsidiary, Merpati Nusantara.

The new routes consequently will expand Garuda's daily flight operation from eight to 11 hours, he said.

Sikado said that the government will allow Sempati Air, a private airline, to fly to Madras in India and Taipei, while Bouraq, another private airline, will serve Davao in the Philippines.(32)