Star Air to fly on June 15

SURABAYA (JP): Privately-owned local airline company PT Star Air will commence its domestic service on June 15, starting with the Surabaya-Surakarta route, a senior executive said on Monday.

Star Air president Ale Sugiarto said the company chose Surabaya as its first hub because it was the country's second largest city and had become increasingly important over recent years.

"Particularly in the era of global competition, this city will become more important for land, sea and air transportation," he said during the airline's launch at the Westin Hotel here on Monday evening.

Ale said flights to Makassar in South Sulawesi, Balikpapan in East Kalimantan, Medan in North Sumatra, and Batam in the Riau province, would soon follow.

Star Air also plans to open international flights from Jakarta to Hong Kong, Beijing and Taipei in December, he said.

Besides the company's central office in Jakarta, Star Air also has regional offices in Surabaya and Makassar. (nur/tnt)