Prosecutors Seek 4 Years for Pilot Accused of Negligence

The Jakarta Globe, Putri Prameshwari, February 24, 2009

Prosecutors said Capt. Marwoto Komar ignored several warnings not to land. (Photo: Regina Safri, Antara)
 

Prosecutors in the country’s first criminal-negligence trial against an aircraft pilot on Monday recommended a four-year jail sentence for Capt. Marwoto Komar over the Garuda Indonesia jetliner crash in Yogyakarta in 2007 that left 21 people dead, including five Australians. 

Marwoto was trying to land the ill-fated Boeing 737, which left Jakarta on March 7, 2007, with 140 people on board, when he missed the runway at Yogyakarta’s Adisucipto International Airport and crashed into a nearby field, causing the plane to burst into flames. 

“The prosecutors did not have enough evidence for their primary charge, so they recommended four years [in prison] for negligence,” said Muhammad Assegaf, Marwoto’s lawyer. 

Prosecutors initially accused him of manslaughter, a crime that can carry the death sentence. 

“Based on the testimony of witnesses and the defendant himself — as well as other evidence — we ask the judges to declare the defendant guilty of negligence leading to the crash,” Modim Aristo, who headed the team of prosecutors, told the Sleman district court in Yogyakarta, according to the state-run Antara news agency. 

Assegaf said Marwoto should not even be on trial because pilots should not face criminal charges. 

“He is the first pilot in Indonesia to be charged with a criminal offense [as a pilot],” Assegaf said, adding that Marwoto should be tried by an aviation council. 

The Ministry of Transportation is legally authorized to form a professional council to administer such problems, comprising aviation experts, officials from the National Transportation Safety Committee, or KNKT, and representatives from the ministry. 

Prosecutors Modim and Jamin Susanto, who took turns reading the 176-page recommendation, said the evidence showed that the defendant had ignored a warning from the co-pilot and alerts from the Ground Positioning Warning System and continued to land despite the plane’s high speed. 

In its report on the crash, the KNKT said the pilot had landed at high speed and had ignored 15 automatic warnings against landing, as well as “two calls from the co-pilot to go around.” 

But Assegaf said his client was a cautious man and that he initially refused to take off from Jakarta because of a blinking indicator. 

“An indicator beeped before the plane took off and Marwoto refused to fly before it was repaired,” Assegaf said. “This shows my client was being cautious.” 

Judge Sri Andini, who headed the panel of judges, said that the trial will resume on March 10 to hear from the defense. 

Poor infrastructure and a lack of safety measures have led to a string of air accidents in Indonesia in recent years, prompting the European Union to ban all Indonesian craft from flying over Europe.

Tourism Train Inaugurated

Monday, 23 February, 2009 | 20:34 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Padang:Transportation Minister Djusman Syafii Djamal has officially launched the operations of Padangpanjang-Sawahlunto Tourism Train. The train will pass the Singkarak Lake and the E1060 Steam Locomotive at Padangpanjang and Sawahlunto train stations. 

“This is a special route. The railway tracks at the Anai Hills is one of two highest tracks in the world after Switzerland,” Djusman said last week. The E1060 Steam Locomotive is operated at Sawahlunto to cater the abundant coal supply in the area. 

FEBRIANTI

Train crash

ANTARA, February 2009

Some police officer and villagers help victims of train crash against passenger bus in Surabaya - Malang road, East Java, Monday (Feb.23). At least eight peoples was kill in this accident. (ANTARA photo/Arief Priyono)

Related Article:

Train hits bus killing eight

Indonesia prosecutors seek jail for Garuda pilot

Sleman, Indonesia (ANTARA News/Reuters) - Indonesian prosecutors asked a court on Monday to jail for four years for negligence the pilot of a Garuda Indonesia plane that crashed at Yogyakarta airport in 2007, killing 21 people. 

Prosecutors told the court in Sleman, near Yogyakarta on Java island, that captain Marwoto Komar had ignored warnings from his co-pilot and onboard warning signals about the plane`s speed and trajectory when landing the aircraft with 140 people on board. 

"As a senior pilot, the defendant was not really careful, causing the loss of lives," said Mudim Aristo, head of the team of prosecutors. 

Komar, who had 22 years of flying experience, has denied the charges against him, and told reporters after the hearing that he had tried to avoid the accident. 

The pilot`s defence team is due to present its final arguments on March 10. 

The Boeing 737 bounced and skidded off the runway, then burst into flames on rice fields near the airport in March 2007. 

Five Australians -- two policemen, a diplomat, a journalist and an aid official -- were among the casualties. 

They were part of a group that had been accompanying former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer, who was not on board the plane, on a visit to Indonesia. 

(Writing by Telly Nathalia; Editing by Ed Davies and Jerry Norton)

AirAsia Offers Free Seats For Four New Routes

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- AirAsia is giving away free seats to mark the launch of four new routes -- Bali-Singapore, Bandung-Singapore, Jakarta-Singapore and Yogyakarta-Singapore. 

The booking is open for travel from Feb 24 till Feb 28 for travel between March 24 and Jan 31, 2010. Booking is also available online via the website www.airasia.com 

The four new routes further enhances AirAsia's present vast network, especially across the Asean region. 

With brand new routes being constantly introduced, countries across the region are efficiently connected with each other and the rest of the world through the budget carriers' hubs in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. 

Indonesia AirAsia chief executive officer Dharmadi said: "These new routes are a significant achievement for us as it signifies our drive and commitment in expanding our network, providing an extensive choice of destinations to our guests." 

"For a start, there will be one daily direct flight from Bali, Bandung and Yogyakarta to Singapore and two daily direct flights from Jakarta to Singapore. 

"With these new routes, more people in Indonesia will get to enjoy accessibility to Singapore. Through our extensive network, covering over 114 routes and 64 destinations, it opens the door to other destinations in the Asean region, Japan, China, Australia and Europe," he said. 

The new routes will be operated by AirAsia's Indonesian operations, currently the only airline flying the Bandung-Singapore route and the first low- fare airline to service the Yogyakarta-Singapore route. 

AirAsia Regional Head of Commercial Kathleen Tan said: "It is also convenient for Indonesians to visit Singapore, renowned as a shopping paradise, leisure centre and food haven. 

"The daily direct flights from out of four Indonesian cities will definitely enhance accessibility for the republic and continue to attract guests with our low fares and innovative services. 

"This enhanced passenger traffic will definitely boost tourism and stimulate local economies between Indonesia and Singapore," she added.

National airport operator to increase services tax

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 02/22/2009 9:41 AM  

State-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura II has officially announced on Sunday that it would be increasing all services tariffs by 20 to 30 percent across the country. 

"The increase isn't for individual passenger services like luggage, passport and fiskal," Angkasa Pura II spokesman Trisno Heryadi said, as quoted by kompas.com. 

He said the increased funds would be allocated to renovate and improve various airport facilities like washrooms, air conditioning, electricity and security. 

Heryadi explained that under the new arrangement, the airport tax for domestic and international travellers at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport would be Rp 40,000 and Rp 150,000 respectively. 

"It's not a new tax altogether, but rather a new fee," Heryadi said, adding that the tariff increase would be part of airport tax fee. 

He argued that among the factors behind the increase was the fact that the airports services were exhausted beyond capacity. 

"The overstretch has led to an outstretch of airport capacity in serving passengers," Heryadi remarked. 

At Soekarno-Hatta, he added, over 34 million passengers were served annually, well beyond the carrying capacity of 18 million travellers. (amr)

Related Article: 

New airport tax tariffs start March 1

Mandala committed to proper aircraft maintenance: spokeperson

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - PT Mandala Airlines has a high commitment to the proper maintenance of its aircraft, the head of the company's corporate communications, Trisja Megawati, said here on Saturday.

"Mandala will never operate unsafe planes and therefore we want to ensure that all of our aircraft are airworthy. To ensure the meeting of international safety standards, we have entrusted all maintenance works on our fleet to Singapore Airlines Engineering Company (SAEC) in Singapore," Megawati said. 

She made the remark in a written statement following the cancellation of Mandala Airline flight RI-570 from Denpasar to Yogyakarta on Friday because of a technical problem. 

The flight was originally scheduled to depart Ngurah Rai airport for Adi Sucipto airport in Yugyakarta at 7:30 a.m. local time on Friday but it had to be delayed for several hours and finally canceled. 

The cancellation caused bitter disappointment among its 137 passengers. 

Ngurah Rai airport duty manager Muhidi said the technical problem was discovered when the plane was about to take off. 

He said the plane was in a standby position on the tarmac, ready to take off but a few moments later it returned to the apron. 

The passengers then got off the plane and waited in a waiting room for several hours before they were finally notified that the flight was canceled and to be replaced by another Mandala flight the next day (Saturday). 

But Megawati said the cancellation was made early in the morning soon after the technical problem was discovered. 

"The passengers were notified about the cancellation in the morning when they checked in and there was no boarding process at all," She said. 

Meanwhile, Mandala Chief Executive Officer Warwick Brady said in Singapore on Friday that the company had entrusted its aircraft maintenance and minor repair work to SIAEC. 

"We entrust every repair, from the nose to the tail, of Mandala aircraft to SIAEC," Warwick said at Crowne Plaza Hotel at Changi Airport in Singapore. 

He said Mandala continued to maintain its commitment to flight security and safety by applying international aviation standards, including in maintenance and repair work.

Garuda incident not dangerous: KNKT

The Jakarta Post,  Sat, 02/21/2009 3:42 PM  

MEDAN: The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) has announced that a noise which occurred in the cabin roof of a Garuda Indonesia airplane flying from Jakarta to Medan, triggering panic among passengers, on Wednesday, was not dangerous to the aircraft. 

KNKT chairman Tatang explained that the "crack" sound happened because of a broken pipe in the plane's air conditioner. 

"It is not true that the cabin's roof was broken. The leakage of the pipe caused only a small hole in the roof near the baggage cabin. The broken pipe presented a tolerable problem and was just an ordinary incident. It was not serious damage," Tatang said in a press conference in Polonia airport, Medan on Thursday. 

He said technicians repaired the leak and the plane was flown to Jakarta at about 1: 30 p.m.. 

After the incident, Tantang recommended that all operators of Boeing 737-400 aicraft should check the main pipe of the air conditioner to avoid similar incidents from reoccurring. - JP

Merpati in for slow start, but begins to see progress

The Jakarta Post, JAKARTA | Sat, 02/21/2009 10:36 AM  

Ailing state airline company PT Merpati Nusantara aims to record only Rp 70 billion ($5.88 million) in net profit this year by cutting its capital expenditure to practically zero. 

“We can only aim for so little because there are still a lot of mandatory costs that we need to settle,” president director Bambang Bhakti said on Friday. 

Among the mandatory costs, he said, are the need to integrate Merpati’s information technology (IT) system in support of new routes as well as crew management, and also the settlements of debts. 

Still, if materialized, the projected profit would represent a gradual improvement for the company. 

Merpati boasts some Rp 950 billion in assets but has been suffering from massive debts and soaring costs, and is now under a restructuring program of the Asset Management Company (PPA) — the state-sanctioned agency tasked to restructure ailing state firms. 

It has a total debt of Rp 2.2 trillion to two other state firms, plus around Rp 800 billion it owes as part of employee layoff settlements, following the dismissal of up to 1,300 workers on a voluntary basis. 

Bambang said that the company was recovering from its critical problems since the fourth quarter of last year. 

Bambang said the company would not allocate any capital expenditure for this year as a practical  means  to achieve its targeted growth in net profits and revenue. 

He said the company aimed to achieve a 50 percent increase in revenue this year, from an estimated Rp 2 trillion (unaudited) last year to a forecast Rp 3 trillion this year. 

“This year capital expenditure is zero,” he said. 

He said that in this time of crisis, company management is trying to make fixed costs into variables. 

“We are not planning any investment (fixed costs), but we will look at other options such as leasing, outsourcing, and the increasing of fuel efficiency,” said Bambang. 

He said the company would benefit more if it leased airplanes instead of buying them, outsourcing employee services, and using electronic ticketing, as well as setting up a new special team to ensure adequate fuel supply and fuel management, rather than excessive use of fuel, without compromising on safety measures. 

The company is also looking for joint operation agreements (KSOs) with regencies, firms or individuals, as a way to boost its performance. 

Bambang said that Merpati had gained 14 KSO deals that could see the company increase its fleet from 10 jets and 10 propeller driven aircraft to 16 jets and 19 propeller driven aircraft, respectively. 

Previously, Merpati signed a contract in 2006 with China’s Xi’an Aircraft Industry. The contract centered on the purchase of 15 Xinzhou-60 aircraft by Merpati from Xi’an, using a soft-loan scheme, with each aircraft costing around $14 million. 

However, Merpati failed to honor the contract, leading to a halt in delivery of the airplanes, forcing the need to renegotiate the deal. 

State enterprises minister Sofyan Djalil had said earlier that the renegotiation of this contract was still ongoing with both parties trying to re-negotiate the price, quantity, and guarantees for the planes. (fmb) 

Garuda To Lease 8 Jetliners

The Jakarta Globe, Janeman Latul & Yessar Rosendar, February 21, 2009

State-owned airline, PT Garuda Indonesia, expects to sign a lease agreement on Mar. 3 with a Middle Eastern company to enable the 59-year-old carrier to lease 8 new Boeing 737-800NGs worth up to $360 million, Emirsyah Satar, Garuda’s CEO, told the Jakarta Globe. 

However, Emirsyah declined to release the name of the leasing company. Garuda’s original plan called for the airline to lease 14 planes funded by different investors in November last year. 

“There’s already a leasing company from the Middle East that will finance the aircraft purchase [that Garuda will use],” said Sofyan Djalil, minister of state-owned enterprises. “Garuda is going to sign it at the World Islamic Economic Forum. Leasing was preferred by Garuda in order not to burden its balance sheet.” 

Sofyan added that leasing provides more flexibility than buying as the company can replace the planes when the lease ends. The scheme can also shield Garuda’s balance sheet from fluctuating exchange rates as the planes are still owned by the leasing company and not Garuda. 

On Wednesday, the carrier also announced that it will turn to its cargo service arm, GO Product, to add about $13 million to revenue in 2009. In 2008, its cargo service contributed 5.5 percent, or Rp 1 trillion ($84 million), of the company’s total revenue of Rp 18 trillion. Garuda expects cargo capacity to increase.

New airport tax tariffs start March 1

The Jakarta Post, JAKARTA | Fri, 02/20/2009 8:41 AM 

Government has approved the proposal submitted by the state-owned aviation operator, PT Angkasa Pura II, to increase service tariffs at domestic and international flight terminals. 

Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal said that the implementation of the new tariffs will start next month. New international flight tariffs will start on March 1,  and domestic ones on March 15. 

"Domestic flight tariffs will only increase by Rp 10,000 on average,  but for international flights by up to Rp 50,000," he said in a statement. 

Angkasa Pura has also received an approval on the adjustment from the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI). 

Many Indonesian airports have been criticized for their lack of proper and decent facilities and access points. Tariff adjustment is hoped to be followed by more improvements in facilities, such as to provide  better public toilets, musholla (prayer rooms) and other facilities and to improve accessibility. 

Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport's domestic flight tariff has increased to Rp 40,000 (US$3.5) from Rp 30,000, while the international flight tax tariff is up to Rp 150,000 from Rp 100,000. 

The domestic flight tariff at Halim Perdanakusuma, the second city airport, goes up to Rp 30,000 from Rp 25,000 and international flight taxes go to Rp 80,000 from Rp 75,000. 

Jakarta's domestic and international tariff increases are the highest compared to other cities, ranging from Rp 5,000 to Rp 10,000 for domestic taxes, and from Rp 5,000 to Rp 50,000 for international taxes. 

Aceh's Sultan Iskandarmuda Airport recorded the highest international tariff increase outside Jakarta, rising by Rp 40,000. 

Medan's Polonia Airport in North Sumatera, Palembang's SM Badaruddin Airport in South Sumatera, Padang's Minangkabau in West Sumatera, Aceh's Sultan Iskandarmuda in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and Bandung's Husein Sastranegara all have domestic flight tariffs increased by Rp 10,000. (hdt)

City considers adding new bus shelter in Old Town area

Agnes Winarti,  The Jakarta Post,  Jakarta | Thu, 02/19/2009 2:12 PM  

The administration is currently mulling over a plan to establish an additional Transjakarta bus shelter in the Old Town part of West Jakarta, as part of efforts to order chaotic traffic in the area. 

"We will review the newly proposed plan within a month," head of road traffic division at the city transportation agency, M. Akbar, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. 

A new Transjakarta shelter on Jl. Kunir, located in the northern part of Fatahillah Square, was proposed recently during a meeting of the coordinating team for the revitalization of Old Town area. 

The team includes officials from the city transportation agency, public works agency, district and subdistrict offices, parking unit, city cultural and tourism agency's Old Town unit, and Old Town building owners association. 

Head of the Old Town unit at the cultural and tourism agency, Candrian Attahiyat said, "The shelter would ease the flow of visitors going to the heritage area, so motorists wouldn't be caught in traffic jams." 

The plan will add another 600-meter lane, connecting the Kota shelter to the new shelter on Jl. Kunir. It will help people traveling north, south, east and west around the 840-hectare heritage site in West and North Jakarta. 

"First, we need to reduce the traffic volume in the area, which is more of a transition area for those going to Pluit and Bandengan," Akbar said. 

Under the traffic volume reduction plan, he said, the city would erect traffic signs prohibiting motorists on certain streets. 

Ella Ubaidi, from the Old Town building owners association, said the traffic solution should be integrated with the Old Town master plan. 

She said the traffic problem in Old Town was not only because of vehicle flow on the streets, but also because of motorists misusing sidewalks, which contradicted the administration's plan to turn the area into a pedestrian site. 

"It is too early to decide whether we need more busway shelters," Ella said. "We do not mind having a new shelter close to the heritage area."

Astra to boost used car sales to avoid market decline

Ika Krismantari, The Jakarta Post,  Jakarta | Wed, 02/18/2009 2:06 PM  

Car financing firm PT Astra Sedaya Finance (ASF) will develop its used cars business to help keep the industry afloat amidst anticipated financing difficulties. 

ASF president director Djoni Bunato Tjondro said on Tuesday the company would expand its used car business as demand for new cars is due to fall as the slow down impacts on people's purchasing power. 

He said that ASF, a subsidiary of diversified business giant PT Astra International, would increase the proportion of used car sales up to 30 percent of its targeted 74,000 sales for the year, equal to 22,200 cars. 

Last year, ASF's proportion of used cars was pegged at 20 percent of 91,000 sales, equal to 18,200 units. "The prospects for the used car business will be attractive because demand for new cars will drop, and from our last year's portfolio business, the segment has yet to be fully tapped," he said. 

The Indonesia Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo) targets that new car sales will decline by 33 percent to 405,000 units this year from 605,000 units last year due to weakening purchasing power. 

More than 80 percent of Indonesian customers buy vehicles through credit schemes. It is predicted that most of them will face some difficulties paying their monthly instalments due to rather high interest rates set by financing companies. 

Data from the Indonesian Financing Company Association (APPI) show that financing firms are still offering interest rates of 18 to 20 percent despite central bank rate cuts, with the latest cut leaving the benchmark rate at only 8.25 percent. 

APPI forecasts that the financing industry will face bleak prospects this year with loan volume declining by 26 percent to Rp 100 trillion (US$8.5 billion) from an estimated Rp 135 trillion previously. 

This gloomy outlook is also shared by ASF, which targets loan disbursements for car purchases to decline to as little as Rp 9 trillion this year from a total of Rp 11 trillion estimated for 2008. 

Despite these alarming business conditions, the company will try to keep its nonperforming loan (NPL) rate at a level below 2 percent this year, Djoni said 

Last year, ASF's NPL stood at 1.27 percent, down from 1.8 percent recorded in 2007. 

In an attempt to mobilize funds for auto loans despite the global financial crisis, ASF also announced a plan to issue bonds worth Rp 600 billion. It is the tenth time the company has issued bonds to the market. Last year, ASF issued bonds with a value of Rp 1 trillion. 

ASF Finance director Hugeng Gozali said ASF's new proposed bond issue is a part of company strategy to keep business rolling.

My two-way-street affair with ubiquitous, reckless, unruly `angkot'

Widhyawati Ambara, The Jakarta Post, Tue, 02/17/2009 2:05 PM  

Driving along Jakarta's roads, it is not uncommon for drivers and passengers to get pissed off at the sluggish traffic and, particularly, the angkot (public minivan). 

Most can't resist the temptation to swear - Oh angkot @!*$%! (Please, feel free to translate that according to your own stock of swearwords). 

The public minivan is incredibly ubiquitous. 

A friend of mine says angkot are like bacteria; they are found everywhere. But unlike bacteria, which can only be seen under a microscope, angkot are far and wide and everywhere in between. They are proud and move confidently around. They maneuver fearlessly, alongside ordinary and luxury vehicles. 

When you are behind the wheel, you feel your soul become detached as an angkot skims by so close that you feel like your car is getting an unwanted deadly kiss. 

The angkot must get cursed at the most, compared to other forms of transportation around the city. 

Is that so? Maybe not so much, maybe not all. It depends on whether you have ever tried to get one. (I know some people have never caught one before.) But some people are members of the angkot fan club. I happen to be a fan, not voluntarily, but out of necessity. 

I use angkot to get to the office multiple times a day. I have enjoyed riding them for a long time. In between my grumbles - about how there are too many on the roads and the ignorance of drivers, among other things - I am thankful that we have angkot around. 

It is fair to describe angkot as useful. Imagine living in Jakarta without a private car to take you to work, school or elsewhere. True, there are buses and now we have the busway, but their routes do not penetrate the corners of neighborhoods in the middle of the labyrinth that is Jakarta. The angkot becomes the savior. 

Sometimes I laugh at myself for being ambivalent. 

On the weekends, when I drive my car around, the angkot is an object to avoid so I don't become emotional as a result of its reckless movements. But on weekdays, when I need them most, I am happy to see one. Once inside, I hope it races, beating the traffic, so I can get to my office quickly. 

These days, I think I love the angkot more. The financial crisis has erected hurdles, preventing me from doing my hobby, traveling. I usually rented a car to get around parts of Indonesia. I have now lowered my standards and use angkot instead. I travel to new places in Indonesia by using angkot. 

Can you find a minivan in the cities of Malaysia and Singapore willing to take you to far-reaching corners? No way. In Sukabumi, West Java, for example, if you want to hike to Mount Pangrango or trek around Situ Gunung, the angkot will serve you well. And they are much cheaper than renting a car. 

Of course they can be irritating when you are driving, as they wait for passengers at curbs. But they make my life easier. I don't have walk very far to a bus stop. Instead, I can wait anywhere and raise my fingers when I see one approaching. 

Nevertheless, I wish the city provided a transportation system that could accommodate everyone's needs. That would be nice. 

But for now, I have a love-hate relationship with the angkot. And that is fine, too. 

Transjakarta Corridor 8 to kick off Feb. 21, Fauzi says

The Jakarta Post, Mon, 02/16/2009 2:42 PM  

JAKARTA: After canceling the launch on Feb. 14 of Tranjakarta's Corridor 8, connecting Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta to Harmoni in Central Jakarta, Governor Fauzi Bowo said Saturday the new route would be launched Feb. 21. 

"If possible, Corridor 8 will be up and running next week. To ensure this, Transjakarta has to intensify the trials all this week, day and night," Fauzi was quoted as saying by beritajakarta.com. 

He was speaking during an inspection of Corridor 8's facilities, including shelters and separators. 

On Saturday, workers repainted some separators along Jl. Pondok Indah, while several shelters in Simprug were fixed. 

Fauzi said the city had prepared 25 buses for Corridor 8. The head of city's transportation agency, M. Tauchid, said that with 25 buses, the headway was expected to reach seven to eight minutes.

Weathering the extreme

The Jakarta Post  |  Sun, 02/15/2009 6:39 PM  |  Jakarta
 

 Dark clouds hang above highrises in the Permata Hijau area of West Jakarta on Sunday. The local government has advised citizens to remain alert to storms and high winds brought on by recent extreme weather. (JP/J. Adiguna)

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Singapore Airlines suspends flights to Vancouver

The Jakarta Post, The Associated Press, Singapore | Sun, 02/15/2009 11:23 AM  

Singapore Airlines Ltd. said it will suspend flights to Vancouver, Canada starting in April as the global economic slowdown erodes demand for travel. 

The carrier flies to Vancouver through Seoul, South Korea three times a week. The suspension is indefinite, and the last flight will be on April 25. 

"The decision to suspend service is most regrettable, as Singapore Airlines has served Canada for over 20 years," the airline said in a statement Saturday. "However, the economic conditions and performance on the route have been badly affected by the global economic downturn." 

Singapore Airline said last month that it planned to cut flights to the U.S., Europe and Asia as demand dried up. The airline said last week its October-December profit fell 43 percent as it flew 4.2 percent fewer passengers. 

Singapore is facing its worst recession since splitting from Malaysia in 1965 as exports plummet. Gross domestic product shrank a seasonally adjusted, annualized 16.9 percent in the fourth quarter, and the government expects GDP in 2009 to contract as much as 5 percent.

Related Article:

Singapore Airlines to cut capacity, ground planes

Cab users ask for fare cuts

Prodita Sabarini, THE JAKARTA POST,  JAKARTA | Sat, 02/14/2009 11:25 AM  

Taxi users in the capital say cab fares should drop following the recent flurry of fuel price cuts. 

Taxi user Annisa Muharami said she was upset with the unchanging taxi fares. 

“It’s really upsetting,” Annisa, who takes taxis as her means of transport, said. 

“Fuel prices have gone down so taxi fares should go down as well.” 

Umar Ali, a telecommunications consultant, said he would like to see the taxi fares in Jakarta go down after the price cuts. “I use taxis regularly to visit my clients.”

Worker Basilisa Dengen, however, was unmoved by the fuel price cut or the transportation fares.

“This change of policy has little impact. The fact is, in some areas fuel is still scarce and people have to buy fuel at a higher price than normal. Nationally, there’s no big impact,” she said. 

Last month, following the fuel price cuts, Jakarta City Council approved of a 20 percent, or Rp 500 (4 US cents), reduction in public transportation fares, for minivan and regular buses fares.  

Taxis fares, however, have not changed despite the lower fuel prices. As of January, subsidized Premium and diesel fuel were at Rp 4,500 (40 US cents), down from Rp 6,000 in November. 

Currently, taxis apply one of two rates — “lower tariff” or “higher tariff”. Low-rate taxis charge a flagfall of Rp 5,000 and Rp 2,500 per kilometer, while other taxis charge Rp 6,000 and Rp 3,000 per kilometer. 

The Organization of Land Transportations Owners (Organda) said taxi fares would remain the same. 

“We have met with all our members [taxi operators] and decided not to cut taxi fares,” Organda head Herry Rotti told the Post recently. 

Taxi operators echoed Organda’s call, saying taxi businesses relied more on giving high-quality service than “selling gasoline”. 

Teguh Wijayanto, spokesman of taxi giant Blue Bird Group, said the company would not cut its rate until it saw a significant impact from the fuel price cut.  

“Fuel is only 20 percent of the company’s operational costs. Some other expenses, like spare parts and maintenance, continue to rise.” 

“We haven’t cut our rate because we still can’t predict price fluctuations on many other operational components,” he said. 

Teguh said the company, currently controlling about 10,000 taxis in Greater Jakarta, preferred to improve services than reduce its fares. 

Smaller taxi operator Taxiku shared a similar view. 

The company’s operational director Priyatmadi said the fuel price cut had not impact on taxi operators. 

“The cut is still too small for small player like us.” 

Taxiku, running about 800 taxis in Greater Jakarta, currently charges its users a lower rate.

“Moreover, passengers choose taxis they trust, no matter what the fare,” Priyatmadi said.

“That’s why, improving service is all we can do right now.” 

The current taxi rates were decided by Organda in June last year after the government increased the price of Premium gasoline from Rp 4,500 to Rp 6,000. 

Despite her disappointment, Annisa said she would still use taxis to go about the city.

“I still need them.” (hwa)

Related Article:

City fines drivers who deny public fare cuts

Garuda Indonesia flies the skies alongside China Airlines

Indah Setiawati, The Jakarta Post, Bali | Fri, 02/13/2009 3:59 PM 
 

 (JP/Zul Trioanggono)

National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia joined hands with China Airlines Thursday to help expand the airlines' customer base. 

Garuda CEO Emirsyah Satar (second left) and China Airlines president Sun Huang-Hsiang exchanged MOUs on the agreed cooperation, signed in Bali on Thursday. 

The agreement is in the form of a number of code share agreements, including deals that China Airlines can sell a fixed number of seats for Garuda and a Special Prorata Aggrement (SPA), where Garuda can have a special rate for getting passengers to fly with China Airlines. 

Garuda will be entitled to have 90 seats in the China Airlines A330 and B744 flights on the Denpasar-Taipei route and 60 seats for the Jakarta-Taipei route, a double increase on the existing code share agreement. 

The state airline will also get an SPA for routes beyond Taipei such as Japan and America, where China Airlines flies. In exchange, China Airlines will also get an SPA for routes between Jakarta and other regions in the country. 

"This cooperation is a milestone for Garuda," Emirsyah said. 

The companies will also sit together to discuss code share cooperation on routes including Taipei-Singapore-Surabaya, Taipei-Hong Kong-Surabaya and Denpasar-Hong Kong-Taipei. 

Agus Priyanto, Garuda executive vice president for sales and marketing, said Garuda booked US$20 million total revenue last year from cooperation agreements with other airlines. 

"We hope to book $10 million in revenue this year with the new cooperation with China Airlines." 

Sun said the cooperation would benefit both companies, and that it was one of his company's steps to cope with the global economic downturn and its impact on airlines.

January auto sales fall on economic slump

The Jakarta Post, JAKARTA | Thu, 02/12/2009 10:24 AM   

Sales of new cars, vans and trucks declined in January on the slowdown in economic growth which dampened local purchasing power. 

According to data from PT Toyota Astra Motor and the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo) auto sales dipped 24 percent to 32,167 units compared to 42,489 in the same period of last year.

Toyota. with its Avanza van, secured around 39,7 percent of  market share, up from 32.3 percent a year earlier. 

“This early part of the year performance is satisfactory given the current unstable economic conditions,” said Toyota-Astra president director Johnny Darmawan.

Gaikindo forecasts sales of cars, trucks and vans will decline by 32 percent to around 405,000 units this year from 603,774  last year as the full impact of the global  economic downturn hits Southeast Asia’s largest economy.

 (JP/Irma)

About 80 percent of Indonesian car, van and truck sales are for vehicles from Japanese manufacturers.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati forecasts that the economy will grow this year by between 4.7 and 5.5 percent, at the most. 

The automotive industry is forecast to be hit hard by weakening demand, with Gaikindo chairman Bambang Trisulo having said earlier that the economy had to grow by 5 percent and inflation had to stay below 8 percent if sales were to reach the median target of 400,000 units.

Bank Indonesia (BI) has been slashing its benchmark interest rates to boost consumer purchasing power, which normally propels more than 70 percent of the economy.

BI recently cut its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 8.25 percent, earlier this month.

Industry players, however, believed BI’s move would not have a considerable impact until the second semester of this year when purchasing power recovery is expected to start to pick up.

More than 80 percent of Indonesian consumers purchase motor vehicles through financing firms, with most of these clients  now believed to be facing some difficulties in paying monthly instalments on time.

Shares of PT Astra International,  the country’s largest auto assembler and distributor, dropped by 6 percent on Wednesday’s trading down to Rp 10,900 from Rp 11,650.

Astra’s closest rival PT Indomobil Sukses International ended unchanged at Rp 1,200.

Last year, automotive companies  aggressively expanded to commodity-rich areas outside Java to profit from the commodity boom. But as the global prices of commodities plunged towards the end of last year, business turned down as well.

Daily trash

The Jakarta Post | Thu, 02/12/2009 4:16 PM 

 Omen, a Jakarta Sanitation Agency worker, collects trash on Utan Kayu river in East Jakarta on Thursday. He works everyday, from morning until late in the afternoon, cleaning the river from domestic garbage thrown recklessly by people living by the river. JP/P.J. Leo

 

Surabaya Prepares City Commuters

Wednesday, 11 February, 2009 | 10:43 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Surabaya: – The state-owned railway company, PT Kereta Api (PTKA) in Surabaya will operate two commuter trains in the city by the end of this year. "Each train will consist of two compartments with a 250-seat capacity," said PTKA Public Relations officer, Sugeng Prijono, yesterday. 

The trains will operate for 24 hours, with tickets priced at Rp3.000 per passenger. These trains will pass the Benowo, Kandangan, Tandes, Pasar Turi, Kalimas, Sidotopo, Gubeng, Wonokromo and Waru stations.

The Surabaya Transportation Office suggested that the train be called Bonek. PTKA has asked the Surabaya administration to clear the squatters living the railway tracks. 

ROHMAN T

Solo-Dubai Flight Route to be Opened

Wednesday, 11 February, 2009 | 11:39 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Surakarta: A flight route between Solo and Dubai will be opened this year as an airline from the United Arab Emirates has shown interest in the route. 

“We have had a serious discussion with the airline,” said Surakarta’s Mayor, Joko Widodo, yesterday (10/2). 

The plan is awaiting the permission of the Transportation Ministry and the Directorate General of Air Transportation. 

Joko explained that once permission was issued, the flight could start operating this year. 

However, Joko refused to mention the name of the airline, adding, “Let’s wait for permission first.” 

He went on to say that this flight route had much potential for customers. 

Many exporters travel to Dubai as well as Indonesian migrant workers. 

At the moment, the only direct flights from Indonesia to the United Arab Emirates are from Soekarno-Hatta airport in Jakarta. 

A traffic flight officer at Adisumarmo Airport in Solo, Mario, said that he did not know about the plan for this new route. 

“However, our airport is ready,” he said. 

AHMAD RAFIQ

Banyuwangi Airport Only For Cassa Planes

Wednesday, 11 February, 2009 | 15:54 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Banyuwangi:The Air Transportation Directorate General has recently issued a license for the operation of Banyuwangi Airport. However, the airport will allow 20-seater Cassa airplanes to land and take off from there. 

The license was approved by the airport's director, Polana B. Pramesti, through the Banyuwangi Transportation decree no. 167/DBU/II/2009 dated February 9, 2009. 

The license was issued following verification by the Transportation Department and the East Java Transportation Office teams conducted on January 23. According to Banyuwangi Transportation chief, Turhadi, the license was issued to meet the deadline of the airport's operations in March 2009, as announced by Transportation minister Jusman Syafii Djamal. "We hurried to finish the job before March," he said yesterday. 

Turhadi said the Cassa planes were chosen due to the airport's incapacity to yet meet the requirements to operate 50-seater ATR planes, because it is

surrounded by hundreds of coconut trees that may disrupt landings. The runway is even used by local people to herd their cattle. 

IKA NINGTYAS

Budget airliner Jetstar sees brisk business ahead

Thom Smyth, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 02/11/2009 12:23 PM  

While Jakarta reports a decline in the influx of visitors, an Australian budget airliner, Jetstar from the Qantas Group that recently launched its first service to Jakarta from Perth in Western Australia, unveiled a "solid performance" in its first three months of operation. 

Jetstar spokeswoman Simone Pregellio said the load factors on both legs of the route were meeting expectations. 

She added that while there was "strong business traffic" (people flying for business reasons), there were more passengers flying into Jakarta from Perth than into Perth from Jakarta. 

"We have been very pleased with the take-up and everything is meeting our expectations," Pregellio said. 

With fares cheaper than their flights to Bali, and almost A$170 (Rp 1.3 million) cheaper than seats on some other airliners flying the same route, they are aggressively marketing the flights in Perth to encourage travelers to visit Jakarta. 

"We hope that with low fares we can stimulate new markets," Pregellio said. 

"The interesting thing with Jetstar is, when it started in Australia, it was attracting up to 10 percent of people who had never flown before. We are finding the same effect as we introduce international services - we are still getting a high percentage of first-time flyers." 

And with the global financial crisis biting into would-be travelers' savings, Jetstar believes these "first-time flyers" are going to be important in stimulating growth worldwide. 

"We certainly approach every route the same way, looking at how we can grow traffic to that particular market," Pregellio said. 

"We are quite excited about introducing ourselves to the Jakarta market. It's a new market for us but one that we think has good potential." 

Pregellio said that while Jetstar worked on cooperative marketing campaigns with government tourism offices, they "had not been approached" by the city tourism agency that had launched tourism campaigns under the Enjoy Jakarta program for the past five years.

Police service improvements: How long will they last?

Desy Nurhayati ,  THE JAKARTA POST ,   JAKARTA  |  Tue, 02/10/2009 11:14 AM  
 

Mobile unit: A man pays his vehicle tax at a Jakarta Police’s mobile integrated service unit in Pasar Baru, Centra Jakarta. People say the mobile service offers faster service. JP/Ricky Yudhistira 

Although the police force was dubbed the most bribe-riddled institution by a recent survey, some people have acknowledged improvements in the administration of police services. 

Drivers said they had noticed improvements when applying for licenses or arranging renewals.

Rather than a strict adherence to its motto, “Serving and protecting the community”, the police were believed only to be ready to serve when the money was ready. 

But sentiment among drivers at the Integrated Service Office (Samsat) in Daan Mogot, West Jakarta, was a little different. 

“When applying for a driver’s license, service should be just like this, quick and with no extra fees,” said Ameria, a Pasar Minggu resident renewing his license at Samsat. 

The driving license service is notorious for corruption. Applicants often paid officers additional charges, and calo (middlemen) benefited from applicants wanting to jump long procedural queues.   

According to procedure, licenses should only cost Rp 105,000 (US$9.12) – Rp 15,000 for a health check, Rp 75,000 for the application forms and Rp 15,000 for insurance. 

Ameria said he used to spend around Rp 500,000 on a new driving license, using calo and insiders to help speed up the process. 

“I am wondering how long the good service will last,” he said. “I hope it is not just because police corruption is under the public spotlight.” 

Several applicants at Samsat on the same day gave similar views, saying they were satisfied with the improved services. None of them were offered brokerage services by calo. 

“There are no calo here,” said Kadirin, a Samsat officer. “Every applicant should undergo normal procedures. We are ready to guide them from the first window to the next.” 

Although the middlemen do not openly offer their services to applicants, they still work around the office fulfilling other jobs, ready to offer their calo services. 

“When I entered the office, an officer offered to guide me through the procedure and take me to all of the windows,” said Lina, another applicant. 

“He obviously asked for a fee after I received my license. I gave him Rp 20,000 and that was the only extra fee I spent.”  

The police were also praised for their mobile service for vehicle documentation. 

Motorists have found the mobile service a big help in getting their ownership documents and driving licenses renewed faster and cheaper, without having to go to the Daan Mogot service center or the municipal police headquarters. 

The mobile units are available in each of the city’s five municipalities, usually in strategic public spots, such as trade centers. 

Each unit changes location every two weeks. 

“It is much better this way, said Burhan, a Tanah Abang resident visiting a mobile unit in Lindeteves Trade Center in Glodok, West Jakarta. “It only took me about an hour to get my driving license renewed. No calo and no extra fee. I paid Rp 85,000 as it should be.” 

Many Jakarta residents have found officers at police stations more responsive. 

Santi, a resident, said police officers were helpful, especially for those who lost their goods.

“I lost my wallet while walking around Blok M,” he said. “I reported it to the nearest police post, and the officer gave me a letter declaring that I had lost an important document. 

“It was good that I could get the letter quickly, so I could immediately go to the relevant office to renew my document. 

“That was not the first time I have reported to a police post. The officers are always responsive.” 

One of the most frequent public complaints about the police is that traffic police officers often pull over motorists for no reason but to try an extract bribes. 

But a police officer patrolling Jl. Sudirman denied the claims. 

“Want proof?” he said. “We often see private car users breaking the three-in-one rule, but we let them go. We only stop some of the cars and give them warning.” 

“We also do not forbid them for using traffic jockeys.” 

The public can find out information on the schedule of the mobile units by calling the Jakarta Police Traffic Management Centre on 021-527-600-104, by sending an SMS to 1717 or by accessing lantas.metro.polri.go.id. 

The website also provides updated information on the traffic situation on the city’s main routes, which can also be found out by calling the police call center on 112. 

The call center, which is accessible both from mobile phones and fixed lines, was part of the National Police’s newly launched reform program called Quick Wins. 

The aim of the program was to speed up response time to public complaints and to boost transparency in criminal investigations.-JP

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