Broome to get two international flights a week starting mid-November

28/9/97

Broome is to get two international flights a week, starting mid-November, Tourism Minister Norman Moore announced today.

This is the result of an initiative of the chairman of the Setia Group of Indonesia, Nurdin Purnomo, the chief executive of Broome Airport, Ron Buckey, and the airport owners, the Kimberley Tourism Association and Indonesia's Merparti Airlines.

Depending on demand, Merparti will use Boeing 737 200 series aircraft.

Merparti will fly from Jakarta to Denpasar, Broome and return twice a week.

There will be daily flights between Christmas and New Year and the Chinese New Year and Ramadan.

The target market for this service is the Indonesian and expatriate market, school groups and backpackers from the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy travelling in Bali.

There are also plans to target the European market.

It is hoped to encourage a flying school to come to Broome to train Indonesian pilots.

Mr Moore said the Merparti flights meant Broome would become a launch point for tourists to visit the Kimberley.

Flying from Jakarta gave Merparti excellent connections throughout Asia and into Europe.

"There is great potential for the Kimberley through this initiative," the Minister said.

"The timing could not be better, with the recent launch of the Brand WA advertisements in Singapore, Jakarta and the United Kingdom.

"The flights will complement this campaign."

Media contact: Hartley Joynt, Minister's office, (08) 9321 1444