JAKARTA: Riau Airlines on Tuesday began flights between the Riau

JAKARTA: Riau Airlines on Tuesday began flights between the Riau provincial capital Pekanbaru and Singapore, company officials said.

A Fokker 50 aircraft will fly the route on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Riau Airlines, which began operating in December 2002, is owned by the provincial administration and operates two Fokker 50s.

It currently serves three routes linking Pekanbaru with islands in the province, including the Natuna islands in the South China Sea.

The setting up of airlines by regional governments is a new trend that has emerged since the decentralzation policy was introduced two years ago. Resource rich provinces such as Papua and the Riau Islands have been the pioneers.

Riau has major oil and gas reserves and a number of multinational corporations have operated for years in the province, given the province abundant wealth to spur its development. -- AFP