TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Government allocates subsidy for air highway pilot project
Change Size
Garuda Indonesia airplanes are parked at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten. (Tempo/Tony Hartawan)
T
he government has said that it will allocate a Rp 21 billion (US$1.5 million) subsidy from this year's state budget for the pilot project of the air highway program in a bid to reduce price disparity, especially in Papua.
The pilot project of air highway, which is targeted to start in the first semester this year, is awaiting the revision of the presidential regulation on maritime highway no. 106/2015 on pre-existing maritime highway programs or subsidized scheduled freightliner services to remote areas.
The revision is to include the air highway scheme.
"The presidential regulation is still being discussed by the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministry. I have been following the process in the ministry," Transportation Ministry air transportation director Maryati Karma said on Wednesday.
(Read also: Garuda Indonesia to add extra flights to Australia)
She added the first pilot project for the air highway will see a scheduled air freight service connecting three cities in Papua, including Timika, Wamena and Dekai, and surrounding areas.
Maryati said the pilot project was important to ensure efficiency.
The government has previously stated that they would merge the scheduled air freight with the maritime highway and state shipping operator Pelni flying six routes. (bbn)
