Monday, January 17, 2011

RIAU AIR FLIES INTO MELAKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Inaugural Riau Air Flight Set To Give LTAM A Boost

MELAKA, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- The inaugural Boeing 737-500 Riau Air flight from Riau to Melaka International Airport (LTAM) in Batu Berendam Friday is expected to give the airport a boost, said Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.

Mohd Ali, who welcomed the delegation from Indonesia, headed by Riau governor, Datuk H.M. Rusli Zainal, said it was a historical occasion for the airport.

"This represents a new start to Malacca's relations with Riau and will bring big changes in the use of LTAM for international flights," he told a media briefing here after the ceremony to welcome Riau Air's flight.

Mohd Ali said because the country's main airlines, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Firefly, had yet to use LTAM as a hub the state had given Riau Air the opportunity.

He said Melaka-Pekan Baru relations would be strengthen economic relations, including tourism and medical tourism.

Riau Air, formerly Riau Airlines, is wholly-owned by the provincial government of Riau. It operates over 60 flights daily from Pekan baru to 10 destinations in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Rusli said Riau Air would begin its thrice-weekly Pekan Baru-Melaka flights next Monday.

He said with the introduction of the Boeing flights, the airline would reconsider its use of Fokker planes.

Rusli said other than LTAM, Riau Air was also eyeing air connections between Pekan Baru and Johor Baru via Senai airport.

-- BERNAMA

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