Pelita Air flies to Jambi

JAKARTA (JP): Local carrier Pelita Air has opened a new route linking Jakarta and Jambi to meet the growing demand for quick transportation from the province, a senior official said.

"With the coming of Pelita Air, the Jambi-Jakarta route is now served by three carriers," Jambi Governor Zulkifli Nurdin said at a ceremony marking the inaugural flight at Sultan Thaha airport over the weekend.

In its first flight, Pelita Air's Fokker-28 transported 53 passengers. Pelita Air will use its 80-seat Fokker-28 aircraft to serve the Jakarta-Jambi route, with flights taking off at 3 p.m. everyday.

Aside from Pelita Air, the Jakarta-Jambi route is also served by Merpati Nusantara with its F-100 and F-28 aircraft, and by Mandala Airlines with its B-737 aircraft.

Zulkifli, however, asked the three carriers which serve the route to stagger their departures in order to provide more alternatives for passengers. (03)