DILI, 17 October 2019 (TATOLI) – Direct Dili-Singapore flights are set to resume after an eight-month hiatus after Royal Air Bhutan received approval to begin services later this month.
The Himalayan country’s flag carrier – operating as Drukair Royal Bhutan Airways – will initially begin operate the leg for a three-month trial, the National Aviation Authority of Timor-Leste (AACTL) confirmed Thursday.
“[Air Bhutan] will fly twice a week, Thursday and Sunday. The airplane[s] will leave Singapore at 3 am local time, and arrive in Timor-Leste at 7:45 am,” AACTL president Ana Rosália Ximenes Varela said in Kaikoli on Thursday.
“While we issue the contract operation three months [initially], if everything goes well, we will extend the contract to six months, [possibly] up to one year,” she said.
Singapore carrier Silk Air cancelled its codeshare arrangement with Air Timor in March, citing ‘reintegration’ with its parent company, Singapore Air. The local operator is awaiting approval to resume the service on its own.
Ms Rosália said that of Royal Bhutan’s first flight to Dili on October 31, AACTL technical teams will inspect the aircraft. said there are three International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) which must be implemented for new flights legs: a ‘Certificate of Air’ (permission to fly); a certificate of registration; and insurance
Flights are expected to begin at $US 200, plus taxes.
Jornalist: Natalino Costa
Editors: Maria Auxiliadora; Robert Baird
Translation: Nelia Borges
