Merpati (Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) faces an uncertain future over reports that its sole shareholder, the Indonesian government, is considering closing down the debt-ridden airline. Indonesia's State-Owned Enterprises Minister, Dahlan Iskan, said he would consider numerous proposals made regarding the shutting down of the airline, which, despite a change in leadership effected last year, has yet to show any signs of a turn around. Cost cutting measures thus far have seen Merpati axe roughly 12 routes from its previous 124-strong network with figures showing that 112 of them were unprofitable owing to load factors of less than 60%. Merpati's debts currently stand at US$32.7million, owed mostly to state-owned institutions such as oil and gas firm PT Pertamina for fuel purchases, Mandiri Bank, airport operator Angkasa Pura II, state asset manager PT PPA and PT Jasindo, an insurance firm. Indonesian aviation sources speculate as to how even a propped-up Merpati would fare in the long run against the likes of Lion Air (JT, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta), Citilink (QG, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) and a resurgent Mandala Airlines (Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) all of whom have set their sights on dominating, not just the domestic Indonesian market, but the regional South East Asian one as well.