18 July 2001JAKARTA - Star Air, Indonesia's latest startup has started services.
It will initially serve two routes - Jakarta to Makassar and Jakarta - Surabaya. The Surabaya route will be covered twice daily, while Makassar in Sulawesi is on a daily schedule. Both cities served as entry points for East Indonesia's commerce.
According to J. Tumenggung, one of the company's directors, the company plans to operate more local routes including the Jakarta-Medan, Jakarta-Batam and Jakarta-Balikpapan routes as well as fly international flights to Kuala Lumpur.
It expects to get a licence for international routes in the next few months. Hongkong, Taiwan, China and Japan will be next destinations, while Australia, Europe are for future development.
Star Air, started May last year, is a joint venture between PT Dwipusaka Abadi, which controls 75 percent of the airline, and PT Habitat Saga Perkasa holding the remaining 25 percent. The company's total startup investment is Rp 200 billion (US$17.5 million). Dwipusaka Abadi is also the holding company of three tour and travel agents: Anta Tour, Vaya Tour and Ramada Bintang Bali Hotel.