Merpati cuts Jambi flights

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned Merpati Nusantara airlines will reduce its weekly flights between Jakarta and Jambi from seven to five starting Tuesday, following the 40 percent increase in domestic airfares.

Merpati's district manager for Jambi Ahmad Fauzi said on Monday that the airline would serve the Jakarta-Jambi route on Monday through Thursday, and Saturday.

"Starting Sept. 1, the tariff for the Jakarta-Jambi flight is increased by 40 percent to Rp 595,400," Fauzi told Antara news agency.

Fauzi refuted suggestions the reduction was due to the decreasing load factor.

He said the load factor for the Jakarta-Jambi route, which uses several Fokker-28 aircraft each with a 80-seat capacity, reached over 70 percent in the last two weeks. (gis)