Mandala Airlines inaugurates operations in Pekanbaru

• Mandala Airlines launched Pekanbaru (PKU) as the latest airport it serves in Indonesia on 14 February. The carrier now offers weekly domestic services each to Jakarta (CGK) and Madan (MES), as well as five-weekly to Singapore (SIN). Competition on the route to the Indonesian capital comes from Lion Air (49 weekly frequencies), Garuda Indonesia (42) and Sriwijaya (7). Madan, its other domestic destination launched last week, is already served by Lion Air and Sriwijaya Air (each with daily flights) and Indonesia AirAsia (3). Mandala Airlines will face the least competition on the international route, as Singapore is served by Silkair with thrice-weekly flights.