Merpati opens check-in counter

JAKARTA (JP): Merpati Nusantara Airlines, a subsidiary of the national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, officially launched yesterday its city check-in counter at the Gambir railway station in Central Jakarta.

Merpati's director of commerce, Budiarto Subroto, said that some 3,000 passengers have enjoyed the service since similar counters were introduced around the country in January.

Merpati, which transports about 2,000 passengers from Jakarta a day, also operates city check-in counters on Jl. Daan Mogot in West Jakarta, in Surabaya, East Java, in Palembang, South Sumatra and in Semarang, Central Java. Passengers using the service are transported to the airport in air-conditioned buses.

According to Budiarto, Merpati has arranged 24-hour service in cooperation with a private travel agency, PT Royal Mega Holidays.

Royal Mega's president Johnnie Sugiarto said that his company invested Rp 300 million (US$132,000) in each counter. They are equipped with the very small aperture terminal technology to handle ticketing.

"This cooperation is based on a five-year contract," he said.

Merpati, which has been assigned to concentrate on domestic routes and remote areas, currently operates 84 aircraft. (icn)