Susi Air Stop Flight Service To Muara Teweh

Muara Teweh, C Kalimantan, Sept 17 (Antara)- Susi Air said it will temporarily stop regular flight services in the routes linking Muara Teweh of Central Kalimantan with Balipapan in East Kalimantan and with Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. The services would be stopped until October starting Wednesday, Sidik, an airport official at Muara Teweh said on Wednesday. So far Susi Air has served regular flights in the Muara Teweh- Balikpapan and the Muara Teweh - Banjarmasin routes once everyday, Sidik said. Susi Air uses 12-seat Cessna aircraft to serve the routes with ticket price of Rp1.5 million per flight. The ticket price is expensive but almost everyday the aircraft is full with incoming and outgoing passengers, he said. He said the airline stopped the flight as it was serving a number of routes with subsidized flights in Central Kalimantan such as Muara Teweh - Palangka Raya , three times a week with ticket price of Rp273,300. The airline also serves flights to and from Pangkalan Bun, Kuala Pembuang and Puruk Cahu, and other cities in Central Kalimantan. A resident of Muara Teweh, Agus Sidik, regretted the decision of Susi Air to stop the non subsidized flights liking Muara Teweh with Balikpapan and Banjarmasin. The airline service is needed by the local people as their is no alternative means for fast transport between Muara Teweh and other cities outside Central Kalimantan. "It would take at least 9 hours by bus from Muara Teweh to Banjarmasin and 7 hours to Palangka Raya," he said.