In January, Wings Air opened a route from Pontianak to Kuching, Lion Air operational director Daniel Putut told reporters at a press conference after inaugurating the first flight, which was seen by Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Rusdi Kirana, who is also the owner of Lion Air, as well as a number of high-ranking officials from Malaysia and Indonesia. 

Miri is a city that borders Brunei Darussalam in the northern part of Kalimantan island. It is the second-largest city in Sarawak after Kuching. 

"The new route will start with one flight every day," Daniel said.

The flight from Pontianak to Miri departs from Supadio Airport in Pontianak at 3:30 p.m. every day and arrives in Miri at 6:20 p.m. local time. The flight from Miri departs at 6:50 p.m. and arrives in Pontianak at 9:40 p.m.

Daniel said with the opening of the new flight from Pontianak to Miri, people could travel between the two cities in just two hours, much quicker than driving, which takes 16 hours.

"It is also quite affordable at around Rp 700.000 (US$50.88), or 230 ringgit," he said, adding that opening the international route was also an effort to improve the economic growth of both regions.

Sarawak’s Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lee Kim Shin said he hoped the flight could strengthen Sarawak and Kalimantan, to enhance “not only tourist activities but also businesses.”

Wings Air uses ATR 72-600 aircraft, which can accommodate 72 passengers. Currently, Wings Air flies to more than 108 domestic and international destinations with a frequency of 351 flights per day using its 54 aircraft. (dmr)

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