Yohanes H. Douglas, Jakarta – Citilink Indonesia, the budget airline of Indonesia's flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, has struck an agreement with Timor Leste's only airline, Air Timor, to add a flight from Bali to Dili.

Citilink's finance director Mega Satria and Air Timor's president director Belchior Francisco Bento Alves Pereira signed the memorandum of understanding in Jakarta on Friday.

Citilink will start flying to the Timor Leste's capital on Sep. 1, using one of its Boeing 737-500, as Dili's Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport is only able to handle narrow-body jets, Mega said.

"This cooperation reflects not only business interests, but also aims to develop tourism in both countries," Mega said.

Air Timor now operates one Cessna 208 B Caravan and charters an Airbus A319 from Thailand's Silk Air to serve Denpasar-Dili and Singapore-Dili routes.

Citilink, on the other hand, has a fleet of 40 airplanes, including 35 Airbus A320 and five Boeing B737.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/business/citilink-fly-timor-leste-september/