No More Worries Traveling Home

04 July 2016

Flights Launched for PTFI Papuan Employees from 7 Tribes

 

On Friday (24/6), PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) officially launched a flight service to inland destinations, for Papuan employees from the 7 Tribes (Amungme, Kamoro, Damal, Dani, Nduga, Mee and Moni) and their dependents. The flight program provides them with easy access to transportation from Timika to their respective inland villages. In the initial stage of the flight service, seven highland destinations will be served: Ilaga, Beoga, Wamena, Paniai (Enarotali), Deiyai (Waghete), Dogiyai (Moanemani) and Intan Jaya (Sugapa).
Currently, 39% or around 4,242 PTFI employees are indigenous Papuans, of which an increasing portion comprises 7-tribe community members. The company is earnestly addressing the needs of 7-tribe employees, as evident among others in provision of the inland flights service.


Previously, to go on vacation to their home villages in inland Papua, these employees had to take a longer roundabout route by way of Jayapura, as there was no airline serving regular flights from Timika to their destination.
VP for Strategic Business & Transportation, William Rising in a speech at the Mozes Kilangin Airport Pioneer Terminal said the service was intended to assist Papuan employees from the 7 tribes and facilitate their journey when they vacation to their villages and on the return trip to Timika. “The program will help employees traveling home and returning to Timika with regular flights,” he said.


GB Kenelak in his speech on behalf of the company’s workers union, PUK SP-KEP SPSI PTFI, disclosed the special flights program for Papuan employees from the seven tribes was agreed during negotiations for the 19th Collective Labor Agreement (CLA) between the workers union and PT Freeport Indonesia management. ”We have been waiting for this for years. Thank you, PTFI, for granting this facility through the 19th CLA, and hopefully this facility to provide flights to and from home villages will also serve to advance the economies of the respective villages,”Kenelak said.


The launching was marked by symbolic beating of a tifa drum by PUK SP – KEP SPSI PTFI chairman Sudiro, witnessed by PTFI VP for Strategic Business & Transportation William Rising, Head of IR Stakeholder Ferdinand Deda, and other invitees. After the tifa-beating ceremony, the invitees took the opportunity to inspect the fleet of aircraft serving the flight routes and to pose for photographs alongside the fleet.


The airlines conducting the flights to inland destinations in the highlands are Airfast Indonesia, Jhon Lin Air, and MAF, with Twin Otter and Grand Caravan aircraft. (Karel)

Back to List

Next News

news thumb 2
05 May 2017

The Amungme and Komoro People’s Development Institute (LPMAK) , a part...

20 July 2017

Freeport Indonesia has taken on board the local Mimika administration...