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)