REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, AMBON - State owned airline company, PT Garuda Indonesia will open direct flight Ambon-Jakarta on August 14, 2013. Manager of Garuda Indonesia in Ambon, Sonny Pongoh said this opening was conducted as the demand for aviation services in Maluku increased.
"Now it will easier passengers to travel to many cities and destinations in Indonesia," Pongoh said on Thursday.
Previously, flight to Jakarta via Makassar-Ambon departs from Jakarta at 00.45 am (western Indonesian time), arrived in Ambon at 07.35 (eastern Indonesian time) and back to Jakarta at 08.00 (eastern Indonesian time). Passenger will transit in Hasanuddin Airport of Makassar and there are no direct flight to Jakarta and Surabaya.
Since Garuda's presence in Ambon in June 2010, market surveys shows the big market potential for air service. Ambon is a great asset for tourism development through flight service. Garuda Indonesia wants to continue to promote tourism potential of Ambon, especially Maluku to foreign countries.