automotive

Expanding Flight Network To Eastern Indonesia, Pelita Air Opens Three New Routes

Pelita Air will connect more destinations in Eastern Indonesia by launching three new routes: Jakarta-Makassar, Makassar-Ambon, and Jakarta-Ambon via Makassar. This step further strengthens the presence of the Pertamina subsidiary airline in 17 cities in the country. 

President Director of Pelita Air, Dendy Kurniawan, stated that the opening of this route is part of the company's long-term strategy to improve inter-island air transportation connectivity while serving more people. 

"Eastern Indonesia has enormous tourism potential, with Makassar and Ambon offering unique natural, cultural, historical, and culinary riches. The presence of this new route, especially Makassar-Ambon, will open up great opportunities for tourism and economic growth in both regions," said Dendy in Jakarta, Tuesday (3/6/2025). 

Makassar: Marine and Culinary Destination 

As the gateway to Eastern Indonesia, Makassar is famous for its enchanting beaches, making marine tourism one of its mainstays. This city is also known for its distinctive culinary flavors and stunning underwater beauty. 

Ambon: City of Music and Captivating Panorama 

Meanwhile, Ambon has two unique nicknames, namely "Ambon World Music City" and "Ambon Manise". The first nickname refers to UNESCO's recognition and the development of this city as a center for musical creativity by the Creative Economy Agency. While "Ambon Manise" (Beautiful Ambon) describes its captivating natural charm, from exotic beaches to rich cultural heritage, attracting both domestic and foreign tourists. 

"In addition to supporting the tourism sector in Makassar and Ambon, the presence of this new route is expected to improve connectivity and accessibility for travelers, as well as encourage economic growth in the Eastern Indonesia region," added Dendy. 

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) 2025, Maluku Province recorded 261,711 tourist visits in March 2025, while South Sulawesi reached 3,238,907 visits. With the opening of this new route, this figure is projected to increase, along with the increasingly open access to the two destinations. 

Tag: Ambon Dendy Kurniawan Makassar Pelita Air