Merpati opens new route

SEMARANG: State-owned domestic airlines PT Merpati Nusantara has opened a new route plying between here and Pontianak in West Kalimantan in response to a growing demand from people conducting social and economic activities in both locations.

There will be three flights to Pontianak every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Hendra Prasodjo, the chief of the Merpati office here, said.

"Many businesspeople have asked for a direct flight from Semarang to Pontianak and vice versa," Hendra said.

He expressed his guarded optimism that the new route would yield strong profits for the company after learning that businesspeople had invested in the West Kalimantan towns of Pontianak and Pangkalan Bun. (har/edt)