Merpati, Sempati sell F-27s

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned Merpati Nusantara Airlines and privately owned Sempati Air will sell their Dutch Fokker F-27 airplanes to improve efficiency.

Merpati's president, Budiarto Subroto, said his company would replace its F-27s with British BAe-146s.

"There are many developing countries that need F-27s. But we are still looking for buyers," he said.

Merpati has one BAe-246 and 13 F-27s, two of which are cargo planes, Bisnis Indonesia reported yesterday.

Sempati director Budi Rahardjo said the airline would sell its five F-27s also.

He said Sempati, which was still looking for buyers, would replace its narrow body fleet with Boeing B-737 jets. (icn)