New airline to launch in Bali
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A new airline will soon launch in Bali, serving both domestic and international routes.
NAM Air, a subsidiary of Jakarta-based Sriwijaya Air, has received a flight permit from the Indonesian government and is now in the process of obtaining its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). And Sriwijaya’s CEO, Chandra Lie, was reported saying this week that he is confident the new airline will commence services in the near future.
“We are optimistic that this carrier will be able to start providing its service by the end of 2013,” Chandra was quoted saying by the Jakarta Post. “We have mapped out which areas we are going to enter first and we are weighing options on the type of aircraft we plan to use.”
According to its flight permits, NAM Air has been given the right to operate up to 300 routes, including 20 to international destinations.
These include East Timor, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Singapore. And the Jakarta Post report added that it will initially operate a fleet of Boeing 737-500s leased from parent company Sriwijaya, before deciding on a new fleet of regional jets, either from Bombardier or ATR.
“We are hoping to secure a deal with one of the planemakers soon, because we want this airline to fly in the next couple of months,” Chandra said.
NAM Air will to become the latest in a series of Asian hybrid airlines, offering low-cost fares and a limited range of services, such as in-flight snacks.
The move marks the first off-shoot for Sriwijaya, which is Indonesia’s third largest carrier after Garuda and Lion Air. In recent months Lion has spread its wings with the launch of several new subsidiaries, including Batik Air and Malindo Air, while Garuda is expanding its domestic low-cost unit, Citilink.
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