"We are still considering the feasibility of conducting regular Ambon-Denpasar flights. We want to make sure that it will be worthwhile," Hendra Sumarno, general manager of Garuda operations in Ambon, said here Tuesday.
He said Garuda`s management had been discussing the opening of new routes in the country and there was a possibility an Ambon-Denpasar route would be opened in 2012.
"We hope we can open an Ambon-Denpasar route in 2012 . We already opened an Ambon-Surabaya route last June 1, 2011," Hendara said.
He said Garuda had to take into account the likely numbers of passengers that would travel on any prospective additional route. As things were, flights to Denpasar would always attract enough passengers but few people were likely to fly from Denpasar to Ambon.
Hendra said that Garuda had been serving an Ambon - Makasar - Singapore route since May 2011, and Ambon-Surabaya, Ambon-Amsterdam, and Ambon-Sydney routes since June 1, 2011.
"We offer flights to Amsterdam because many Dutch citizens of Maluku origin visit Ambon every year," Hendra said, adding that Ambon-Amsterdam flights were intended to increase the number of foreign tourist arrivals in Maluku.
(Uu.O001/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
