Merpati (Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) has been given until the end of the month to resume operations Indonesia's State-Owned Enterprises Minister, Dahlan Iskan, has said. Owing to a massive debt overhang amounting to IDR6.7trillion (USD549million), the state-run carrier suspended flights on February 1 in a bid to consolidate its operations, Mr Iskan told the Jakarta Post. “The situation right now has made it necessary for Merpati to cease operating, as the damage would be far greater if it were to continue,” Dahlan said. As a result of the suspension, employees' work hours have now been slashed.