Western Australia Becomes Important International Gateway to Low-Cost Qantas Offshoot.
On Monday, October 27, 2008, the low-cost Australian carrier
Jetstar commenced its new service between Perth and Denpasar (Bali).
The Chief Executive Office of Jetstar, Bruce Buchanan, lauded the opening of Perth as the seventh international port for the airline, saying Western Australia was destined to make a major contribution to his airline’s plans for overall expansion in Asia.
Jetstar will initially operate three times a week between Perth and Bali flying Airbus A320 aircraft carrying 177 passengers; increasing to four times a week on December 17, 2008. Jetstar has also launched a thrice-weekly service between Perth and Jakarta and a daily service between Perth and Singapore commencing on December 2, 2008. The Jakarta and Singapore services will also utilize Airbus A320 equipment.
Bruce explained to the press how Jetstar is assuming routes formerly operated by its full-fare affiliate Qantas.
Source: http://www.balidiscovery.com
November 3rd, 2008
Jakarta Withdraws it Support for the Sanur-Serangan-Tanjung Benoa Toll Road.
Efforts to construct a toll bridge connecting Sanur and Nusa Dua via Serangan Island have just been complicated further by the withdrawal of financial support by the central government, leaving the people of Bali to find their own funding for a project estimated to eventually cost US$151 million.
According to NusaBali, an initial commitment of Rp. 5 billion (US$500,00) from Jakarta to help pay for initial infrastructure support prior to the main construction phase, has now been withdrawn, leaving Bali to shoulder alone the entire financial burden of constructing Sanur-Serangan-Tanjung Benoa tollway.
Complicating Bali’s situation even further is that, in anticipation of Jakarta’s support, funds have already been spent to secure land from local property owners and begin the groundwork for feeder roads. Replacement funds must now be found from other sources to pay for expenditures already in progress.
According to NusaBali, no allocation for the toll way was included in the 2009 provincial budget, despite recommendations that Rp. 50 billion (US$5.1 million) be allocated in each year’s budget to allow the project to proceed on an installment basis. The lack of funding, on both a local and national level, places the Serangan bridge toll way project increasingly in doubt.
Source: http://www.balidiscovery.com/
November 3rd, 2008