Jakarta-Bandung commercial flight resumes

BANDUNG: The commercial flight from Bandung to Jakarta resumes on Friday (today) after being suspended for two years due to economic woes, head of the air transportation unit at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication Office in Bandung, Ardan Ilham, said here on Thursday.

Ardan said in a hearing with the Commission D of the West Java Provincial Legislative Council here that Deraya Air Taxi would start the service on Friday (today) with its Skyvan T-330.

"Demand has been high. The only alternative comfortable means of transportation is by train, but many passengers cannot get seats," he said.

Deraya made a trial on Oct. 15 with a British-made aircraft which has 30 seats. Deraya would set the one-way ticket price at Rp 185,000 for the 30-minute trip.

Merpati Nusantara with its CN-235 and Sempati Air with its Fokker 28 have successfully served the route before the crisis.

Merpati's ticket price was Rp 250,000 per person/trip.

According to Ardan, Deraya is well experienced in serving domestic routes, especially outside Java. (25/sur)