We have resumed return pioneer flights serving passengers and cargo services for the Timika-Kaimana-Fakfak routes since January 16, 2021
Timika, Papua (ANTARA) - Pioneer flights have again begun serving passengers and cargo services to several isolated areas in the Indonesian province of Papua since January 16, 2021, according to the Timika-based Mozes Kilangin Airport authority.

"We have resumed return pioneer flights serving passengers and cargo services for the Timika-Kaimana-Fakfak routes since January 16, 2021," Mozes Kilangin Airport Head Syamsuddin Sulaiman was quoted by ANTARA as saying here, Wednesday.

The airlines operating the return pioneer flights received the Indonesian Transportation Ministry's subsidies. This year, the government has begun offering new return flights from Kaimana and Fakfak to Timika, the capital of Mimika District, he remarked.

The Mozes Kilangin Airport authority is cooperating with two pioneering flight operators -- PT ASI Pudjiastuti Aviation (Susi Air) and Asian One Air -- to serve passengers, he noted.

To this end, Susi Air operates a Pilatus PC-6 Porter-typed aircraft, while Asian One Air operates a Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft, he noted, adding that cargo services for the Timika-Wamena route are served by Trigana Air.

Trigana Air operates a Boeing 737-200 aircraft to transport cargo for the Timika-Wamena route, while the Asian One Air will serve cargo flight services to destinations whose airports have small runways.

In halting the potential spread of novel coronavirus infections, the Mozes Kilangin Airport authority has mandated passengers to show results of their rapid antigen tests before boarding the aircraft.

ANTARA noted that apart from Papua, the government also supports the commencement of pioneer flights for several isolated areas in the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Maluku, and Madura.
Related news: 1,040 quakes in West Papua's Sorong district in 2020: BMKG

Related news: Security imperative for Papua flight operators: airport authority

EDITED BY INE

Translator: Evarianus S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021