"Xian has officially written to the State Enterprises Ministry to help develop Merpati, and so has Shukoi," he saidJakarta (ANTARA News) - Chinas Xian Aircraft Industrial Corporation and Russias Sukhoi have expressed interest in investing in cash-strapped carrier, Merpati Nusantara Airlines, State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan said.
"Xian has officially written to the State Enterprises Ministry to help develop Merpati, and so has Shukoi," he said after a meeting of state-owned companies leaders at the head office of state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II here on Thursday.
Dahlan said the two aircraft manufacturers will soon hold a meeting with Merpati to discuss technical cooperation.
Merpati has so far operated 13 Chinese-made MA-60 planes.
"The pattern of the cooperation must be clear. Xian may increase the number of Merpati planes and improve the operation of the planes. Merpati can operate eight of its 13 MA-60 planes and send the rest to the repair workshop," he said.
As the aircraft manufacturers have funding capacity to procure new planes, they have the potential to become Merpatis new partners, he said.
At present the state carrier has two joint operation partners, PT Bentang Persada Gemilang and PT Amagedon.
However, the partnership has not worked as a plan to develop Merpatis business to serve umroh (minor hajj) pilgrims fails to secure a seal of approval from the Transport Ministry.
Under these circumstances, Merpati opens a chance for new investors to finance its operations as well as to procure new planes, Dahlan said.
Merpati, which mostly served flights in eastern Indonesias remote areas suspended its operations on Feb. 1 after it failed to find a solution to its mounting debts of up to Rp6.7 trillion.
The government planned to shutdown Merpati in 2001. But it dropped the plan and instead injected a fresh fund of Rp400 billion into the state carrier.
Despite the cash injection, the airline company failed to improve its financial conditions.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
