Palangka Raya, C Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - Aviastar airline serving pioneer flights in Central Kalimantan has stopped operation after the state budget has no subsidy allocation for the service, the Central Kalimantan transportation office has said.

The service of Aviastar is needed to serve flights to the interior areas but on limited budget the subsidy on the pioneer flights by Aviastar was stopped in 2016, head of the air transportation division of the regional transportation office Kasturi said here on Tuesday.

"We have to do something that Aviastar would be subsidized again like Susi Air. It is important that Aviastar could resume operation as it could serve all routes and land on all airports in Central Kalimantan. Susi Air does not serve all airports in the province," Kasturi said.

He said with Aviastar out of service transportation between Palangka Raya and other areas such as Buntok in Barito Selatan District, Kuala Kurun or Tumbang Samba in Gunung Mas District, has to be made by car.

"It is quite a long distance that would take a much longer time," he said.

He said Susi Air serves only pioneer flights between Palangka Raya and other areas including Puruk Cahu, Pangkalan Bun, Muara Teweh, Sampit and Kuala Pembuang, and between Kuala Pembuang and Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.

"Next year we hope all pioneer flight routes in Central Kalimantan could be served again. We would propose to the central government," Kasturi added.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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