Merpati opens check-in counter

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)