Bandung, W Java (ANTARA News) - Pioneer Airlines PT Air Born will order eight units of the N219 aircraft, which have been produced by the National Aviation and Space Agency (Lapan) and state-owned aircraft industry PTDI.

Air Born will purchase eight N219s to support its fleet, which flies pioneer routes and provides charter services. "We have ordered eight units of N219s. Perhaps this is the first order. We hope in 2017 that we will get to operate the planes, replacing those which are still active now," said President Director of PT Air Born, Sazahan Mohamad Yassin, during the rollout of the N219 at the PTDI Hanger in Bandung, West Java, on Thursday.

Sazahan said the order for the N219s is part of the companys strategy to seize opportunities in the charter aircraft business, which Air Born has been doing so far.

He said his company is operating six Twin Otter planes. Most of them are operated through a charter system. "Ahead, the aircraft charterer business is promising. We are focusing on providing services for mining and cargo transportation," he added.

The company has already secured financing guarantees for the purchase of the PTDI product, he said, adding that he believed N219s were of high quality.

"PTDI has proven its guarantee on the quality, convenience and security of its planes. They are needed for pioneer flights and charter services," he added.

He said his company's trust in PTDI products was built after observing its products, such as the CN235 and N212 aircraft that have been used by many countries. "N219 has excellent transportation capacity and we will use it to increase the number of aircraft in our cargo transportation fleet," noted Sazahan. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015