Sempati stops Dili flights

Sempati stops Dili flights

DILI, E. Timor: East Timor Legislative Council chief Armindo
Soares Mariano appealed to Sempati Air to reconsider its decision
to terminate its flight services between Jakarta and Dili.

"We need more flights, not less," Armindo said on Sunday,
recalling that passengers often had to wait for flights because
they are full.

The private airline is reportedly considering to end three
weekly flights to and from Jakarta as of Sept. 1. This will leave
state-owned Merpati Nusantara Airlines as the only carrier to
service Dili.

This would be a setback for East Timor and its development,
Armindo said, adding that the move would discourage potential
investors from coming to East Timor.

Chief of the Ministry of Transportation office in East Timor,
Robertus Widagdo, said he wrote to Jakarta requesting for more
airline flights to Dili.

Robertus expressed his surprise at Sempati's decision, given
that the Dili flight usually had few empty seats. (33/09)