KUCHING-PONTIANAK FLIGHT ROUTE TO BE FINALISED AFTER APPOINTMENT OF NEW KALBAR GOVERNOR
KUCHING, Jan 20 (Bernama) --The reactivation of the flight between Kuching and Pontianak will be finalised after the appointment of the new West Kalimantan Governor (KALBAR) through the Indonesian General Election (Pemilu), said Indonesian Consul-General in Sarawak Raden Sigit Witjaksono.
He said the election of a new governor for Kalimantan is expected between September and November.
“We also hope for connectivity not only (from Kuching) to Jakarta, but also from West Kalimantan (Pontianak) which we had before the pandemic... After the Presidential Election for the president and vice-president posts, we will hold an election for governors.
“When we have the governor, we hope the Supadio International Airport in Pontianak will consider introducing the Kuching-Pontianak route," he told reporters after attending the 74th Immigration Service Day at the office of the Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia here, today.
Before this, Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin was reported to have said that Indonesia, during the Brunei–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) meeting in August last year, had agreed in principle to start Kuching-Pontianak flight operations.
Commenting on AirAsia's flight frequency for the Jakarta-Kuching route which will be increased from Feb 8, Raden said it would have a positive impact on the economy of both countries.
"This will also enhance cooperation between the Sarawak government and Indonesia,” he said.
Yesterday, AirAsia, in a statement, said that the frequency of flights for the Jakarta-Kuching route will be increased to every day or seven times a week, from only three flights a week, following the recovery of the tourism industry in both countries.
-- BERNAMA
