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20.
INDONESIANS IN QUEENSLAND HOPE 'GARUDA' RESUMES FLIGHT TO
BRISBANE
Canberra
- The Indonesian community including students in Brisbane and other areas
in Australia's state of Queensland hoped national flag carrier Garuda
Indonesia would resume its Denpasar-Brisbane route which has been closed
since 13 January, 2007, an Indonesian student figure has said.
"We
are concerned over the closure of Garuda's Denpasar-Brisbane route as of
January 13, 2007, president of the Indonesian Students Association at the
University of Queensland, Nur Iswanto, said in Canberra on Thursday
(29/03).
Although
there are many international airline companies which serve flights from
Brisbane to a number of cities in Indonesia, Garuda remained the main
choice of the Indonesian people and Australian tourists from Queensland
who want to visit Bali, he said.
"To
more than 1,000 Indonesian people in Brisbane, a direct flight with easier
transit to domestic planes in Indonesia is a decisive factor," Nur
said.
In
terms of price, according to Nur, Garuda Indonesia is competitive and it
offers much cheaper prices for delivery services than those of foreign
airline companies. Nur said that Indonesians flying with Garuda felt more
comfortable when the flight attendants who are also from Indonesia serve
them.
"Garuda
Indonesia has so far paid great attention and supports to the Indonesian
community's activities. The celebration of the national independence day,
among others, is always held under the auspices of Garuda Indonesia,"
he said.
"People
to people activities always get support from the Indonesian national flag
carrier. Garuda's services were no longer felt since the Indonesian
honorary consulate in Brisbane was closed in January, 2006," he said.
Thus,
the Indonesian students and people in Brisbane hope that Garuda
Indonesia's management in Jakarta wants to resume its direct flight from
Denpasar to that Australian city. "We will always support the
Indonesian airline company's efforts to develop its businesses by giving
priority to flying with Garuda Indonesia," Nur said (Antara,
29/03/07).
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