Perth, Australia–

Turner is the director of the airline Austasia. But he’s hoping that his planes will soon be flying as Timor Air, flag carrier for East Timor, the Indo-Pacific nation that only gained its independence from Indonesia in 2002.

How are you rebranding?
Once we receive government approval, we’ll become Timor Air. That means new website, logos and uniforms to build domestic and international awareness for Timor Air as East Timor’s first airline. Tickets will be sold on global ticket distribution systems.

Currently, you fly to Singapore only. What other destinations will Timor Air serve?
We’ll start operations to Australia, including Darwin, Brisbane and Sydney. There will be flights to Hong Kong, and in Indonesia we’ll go to Denpasar and Jakarta.

What about domestic services?
During the first part of 2011, we’ll start flying to Baucau, Ocussi and Suai and eventually we’ll fly to Los Palos.

Originally published in the October 2010 issue of Monocle magazine.