DILI, 24 January 2023 (TATOLI)— Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak requested a reasonable price for a flight for passengers who wish to travel with Aero Dili Airline.
The wish of the Prime Minister came after the official launch of the Timor-Leste-based airline, Aero Dili, route for the first time.
“Congratulations to the owner of the Aero Dili company, Lorenço de Oliveira, on the investment for airline activity. I ask for ticket sales to be priced fairly,” said PM at the Timor Hotel, this Monday.
PM Ruak appreciated the initiative that had been carried out and wanted the private sector to participate in the investment for the aviation sector which links the world and Timor-Leste.
Meanwhile, the Aero Dili Executive Director, Lourenço de Olveira, acknowledged that the right time for Timor-Leste to have its aircraft is because it has been independent for 20 years and does not have to depend on other countries.
“So far we only have charter flights and thankfully, with great efforts and support from various parties, this year Aero Dili already has its own AirBus type aircraft and will start the route to Denpasar for the initial stage,” he said.
He explained that the aircraft with the type AirBus A320 – 4WAAL costing more than $ 100 million has a capacity for 180 passengers, but according to Aero Dili for convenience, it will only facilitate 165 passengers.
The aircraft is currently still in Thailand for final preparations and will arrive in Timor-Leste at the end of February.
Question about the price of the ticket which will be marketed later, the owner of the only airline in Timor-Leste guarantees that the price will follow the standards and market in Timor-Leste.
Aero Dili is a charter airline from East Timor. The airline commenced operations on 30 August 2018. The airline has its main hub at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili and its fleet consists of one Cessna 207 aircraft and one Cessna 172 aircraft.
“I have been operating domestic flights for five years and now I want to reach international flights. The Sriwijaya and AirAsia planes are the planes I charter to fly,” he said.
Aero Dili is the first airline in Timor-Leste to be awarded an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by the Civil Aviation Authority of Timor-Leste (AACTL) to operate domestic operations.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
