Air Timor News

PRESS RELEASE – Jakarta, 12 October 2010

AIR TIMOR’S FIRST AIRCRAFT PURCHASE

Director of Air Timor, Mr. Bosco Gueterres announced today that he had signed on behalf of the Board of Directors a contract with Cessna Aircraft Corporation USA to purchase the airline’s first aircraft a new Cessna Grand Caravan. The total cost of the aircraft with modifications to suit Timor-Leste, spares and training will cost US$ 3 million.

Mr. Gueterres said that the airline had conducted a detailed analysis to determine the best aircraft for Timor-Leste conditions. In March 2010 the airline in conjunction with Cessna Aircraft Corporation brought a Cessna Grand Caravan to Timor-Leste to conduct trials to Oecussi and Baucau which was a success. He said additional aircraft will be purchased in 2011, and the airline expects to have a fleet of 3 to 4 aircraft by 2012.

Manufacturing and the fitting of special equipment will permit delivery of the aircraft to Timor-Leste in May 2011. Mr. Gueterres said the aircraft will be fitted with a special cargo pod which will allow the development of exports of fruit and vegetable from the districts to Dili and Singapore. The aircraft will come with 2 medivac stretchers for emergency medical transfers and with special radio and communications systems compatible with Timor-Leste defense and police forces.

Air Timor proposes to operate a fleet of these aircraft on daily schedules to Oecussi, Baucau, Viqueque, Maliana, Suai, and Los Palos. The Managing Director of Air Timor, Ed Turner said the airline had completed detail financial route studies to all of the districts and hoped to keep the airfares to the lowest level in the interim years to US$ 30.00 to US$ 50.00 to assist people in the districts. To achieve this, the airline would be seeking assistance from the Government for a small subsidy to develop the routes over the first 2 to 3 years.

Mr. Turner stated the airline had submitted applications to the Minister of Infrastructure to approve flights to Oecussi, Baucau and Suai in 2011 and had sought support from the Government to provide limited expenditure to upgrade these three airports to operating standards.

Mr. Gueterres said the airline would be encouraging a number of young Timorese who are studying for pilot licenses overseas to return to Timor-Leste to become the first pilots of this aircraft under supervision and training by experienced, qualified overseas flight captains.

Air Timor also announced that it would commence a third schedule to Singapore every Thursday from 13^th January 2011. The Airline will also be putting on additional flights between Dili and Singapore in December 2010 and January 2011 for the yearend holiday period.

Shows Steve Lakeway  and Richard Brown from Cessna,  Director Jon Evans and Bosco Guterres and Managing Director  Ed Turner signing Contract to purchase Air Timors first Aircraft for Domestic Routes within Timor Leste