INDONESIA

Airline Competition Plan OKd: President Suharto has approved a plan to allow private international airlines to compete freely with the state-owned Garuda Indonesia beginning in 1998, Communications Minister Haryanto Dhanutirto said. Private airlines are currently allowed to serve international flights only to neighboring countries, including Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. “All airline companies will be given the same right to serve flights to Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific region and Latin America,” Haryanto said. He said demand for air transport services is growing and private airline companies are expected to start negotiations soon.