The Bus 320 having a capacity for 180 passengers, arrived in Palembang from Kuala Lumpur on Thursday at 5.25 pm local time, and directly welcomed by the South Sumatra Governor by draping strings of flowers on the air hostesses and passengers.
Air Asia is expected to increase its flight frequency particularly on the occasion of SEA Games in November 2011, the governor said.
The Palembang - Kuala Lumpur flights will enable foreigners tp go straight to South Sumatra province, he said.
He said the passengers would no longer have any need to go to Jakarta because they can go straight to Palembang.
Marketing Communications Executive of Air Asia Baskoro Adiwiyono told the press that the maiden flights are flown for the time bing three times a week.
Air Asia will fly over the Palembang - Kuala Lumpur route on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with 1 hour and 20 minutes each flight, he said.
In the meantime President Director of Air Asia Dharmadi said in his press release that the opening of the new route is Air Asia`s commitment to support tourism and the ASEAN economy.
He said further that Air Asia is aggressively promoting the cities in Sumatera, including Palembang, as a very attractive tourist destination.
Herry Bakti S Gumay said that the Palembang - Kuala Lumpur was opened because of the great number of passengers in the province especially those going abroad.
In addition to that, Musi Rawas regency will soon also inaugurate the Silampari airport, to enable the further development of South Sumatra, he said. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
