Merpati prepares fund for leasing new planes

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 11/11/2009 3:15 PM

Merpati Airlines, revealed Wednesday that the company will lease seven ATR-72 aircraft in the first quarter of 2010, costing US$80,000- $90,000 each per month, and that it planned to further lease a total of 22 planes by 2011.

“We will start with 7 planes in the first quarter of 2010 first. Hopefully by the beginning of 2011 we will lease all of 22 planes,” Merpati President Director Bambang Bakti told reporters at the office of state ministry for state enterprises in Jakarta.

He said that the company had allocated a budget for leasing those planes, which are from France, at about Rp 1 billion per aircraft per month.

“We also have prepared Rp 3-5 billion as additional an budget per aircraft for training for pilots and co-pilots, technicians, stewardesses, including maintenance and flying approval,” Bambang said.

Merpati is targeting to increase its routes from 150 to 200 routes using the new armada. The company also plans to create a hub, which will provide flying services to remote areas for its consumer.