Qantas asked to serve Irian

Qantas asked to serve Irian

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(Kadin) has asked Australian airline Qantas Airways Ltd. to open
flight services between Darwin and the country's eastern-most
province, Irian Jaya.

Head of the Irian Jaya chapter of Kadin, Tonny Uloli, said on
Friday his organization suggested that Qantas tap potential
business in air transportation between Darwin and several cities
in the province such as Biak and Timika.

"The government has been promoting tourism in Irian Jaya and
this program would create business opportunities for
international airlines," Uloli told Antara in Jayapura.

He added that air services between Darwin and Irian Jaya would
help Australian investors tap business opportunities in the
Integrated Economic Development Zone in Biak-Timika, which was
launched in 1997.

Another business leader of Manokwari regency, Mamad Suhadi,
said local businesspeople also encouraged private airline Bouraq
to supplement operations of state-owned Merpati Nusantara
Airlines in the province. (01)