IMIP Morowali to Palu flight route officially begins operations

The flight route from the PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) Domestic Airport in Morowali Regency to Mutiara Sis Al-Jufri Airport in Palu, Central Sulawesi, officially began operations on Thursday (3/9).

The inaugural flight utilised a Super Air Jet Airbus A320, flight number IU 2254, carrying 158 passengers out of a total capacity of 180 seats.

Head of the Media Department at PT IMIP, Dedy Kurniawan, stated that the flight is a special charter service specifically for workers within the IMIP industrial estate. “This flight route is one of our efforts to strengthen connectivity and worker mobilisation,” Dedy said in Morowali on Thursday.

He noted that the journey from IMIP Airport to Palu takes approximately 45 minutes, significantly reducing travel time compared to land transportation. According to Dedy, the opening of this route is also expected to contribute to local tax revenue through aviation activities.

“We support the maximisation of local tax absorption through the presence of this flight route,” he added.

He explained that the PT IMIP Domestic Airport operates under the supervision of the Sultan Hasanuddin Regional Airport Authority Office V in Makassar. The airport is equipped with various supporting facilities, including waiting rooms, VIP lounges, cafes, public toilets, and the AVIS navigation system.

Dedy mentioned that AVIS is a visual and audio-based navigation guidance system used to assist pilots during the landing and navigation processes.

He expressed hope that this aerial connectivity would not only support the mobility of workers in the industrial zone but also strengthen the relationship between Moreway and Palu as the administrative and economic hub of Central Sulawesi. “This connectivity holds broader significance for Morowali and Central Sulawesi,” he concluded.