Wings Air, a subsidiary of Lion Air Group, operated its maiden Maumere-Labuan Bajo-Lombok-Makassar flight on Dec. 5, which is aimed at catering to businesspeople and tourists.

Operating once a day, the route utilizes ATR 72-500 or ATR 72-600 aircraft that can accommodate 72 economy-class passengers.

Wings Air operational director Captain Redi Irawan told tempo.co (https://travel.tempo.co/read/1153158/wings-air-hubungkan-4-kota-permudah-perjalanan-wisata) in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Friday that the service would depart from Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi, to Frans Seda Airport in Maumere, Flores, NTT at 6 a.m. local time.

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From Maumere, the plane will continue its journey to Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, NTT, at 7:45 a.m., and then from there travel to Zainuddin Abdul Madjid Airport in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), at 9 a.m.

Meanwhile the return flight is scheduled to leave Lombok for Labuan Bajo at 1:55 p.m., then depart from Labuan Bajo to Maumere at 3:30 p.m., and finally travel to Makassar from Maumere at 4:45 p.m.

"These new routes allow travelers as well as businesspeople to transit to different regions where they can holiday or do business in the four cities," said Redi, adding that the move also aimed to support the government's plans to boost 10 so-called New Bali destinations, which include Mandalika in Lombok and Komodo National Park in West Manggarai, Flores. (kes)