Merpati closes Irian route

Merpati closes Irian route

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: State-owned Merpati Nusantara Airlines
has decided to temporarily close its flight service between
Manokwari and Bintuni, Antara reported.

Luther Woppy, head of the Rendani Airport in Manokwari, said
the airline made the decision because of the poor condition of
the Bintuni airstrip following an accident in which a Merpati
plane crashed shortly after take off.

Luther said that the Bintuni airport cannot be used during the
rainy season because its runway becomes covered with mud. During
the dry season, light planes of Twin-Otter and Cessna types are
still able to land on the runway, he said.

G.A. Ganadhi, the manager of Merpati's office in Manokwari,
said the airline will resume its services to Bintuni as soon as
the airstrip is repaired.

For the time being, everyone intending to go to Bintuni will
be flown to the nearest town of Babo. (emb)