S Korea Is Biggest Market For RI-Made CN 235 Aircraft

Nusa Dua (Antara Bali) - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said South Korea was the biggest market for Indonesian-made CN 235 aircraft.

"South Korea has ordered the biggest number of CN 235 aircraft so far in addition to orders from other countries," he said here on Wednesday after the opening of the Indonesia-Kore Working Level Task Force Meeting.

He said South Korea had been attracted  by the Indonesian made aircraft  because in terms of reliability and cruising speed it could compete with planes made by other countries.

"Even now Korea plans to increase the quota of its aircraft purchase," he said.

He said compared to Casa-type aircraft the quality of CN 235 was better.

"This  is what the Koreans have said. The CN 235 is far better than Casas. Therefore they are interested in purchasing more," he said.

Hatta said he himself had observed an increasing interest in the aircraft in the international market.

"In the opening speech just now I explicitly said that we wish to produce more CN 235s," he said.

Regarding the use of the aircraft at home, Hatta said he would optimize it.

"In the future, we will push for more use of the aircraft to serve inter-island routes in the country," he said.

Some countries that are  using CN-235s include Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Pakistan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.(*)