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)