Merpati serves Dili-Suai

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned airline PT Merpati Nusantara, which started weekly flights from Dili to Suai in East Timor in April, picks up an average of 10 passengers a flight from Dili, an official said yesterday.

The head of the Ministry of Transportation's East Timor office, R. Widagdo, told Antara that a C-212 propeller plane serves the 30-minute 202-kilometer route every Tuesday.

Widagdo said the plane, which can carry 20 passengers, flies from Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara to Alor Island, also in East Nusa Tenggara, before going to Dili and Suai.

He said he expected Merpati to start a route between Dili and Kisar Island in Maluku via Baucau in East Timor next year. (13)