By James Wilkinson

Garuda Indonesia is expanding its Australian network, with new direct flights to Jakarta set to launch from Melbourne and Sydney on August 1.

Garuda is launching direct Jakarta flights on Aug 1

The arrival of the first of four brand new Airbus A330-300 aircraft has allowed Garuda to introduce the new thrice-weekly flights from both Sydney and Melbourne. It will increase the number of flights from both cities to Jakarta to seven, with the remaining four services already operating via Denpasar.

Garuda Indonesia senior general manager – Australia and Southwest Pacific, Poerwoko Soeparyono, said the introduction of the new Jakarta services is part of the airline’s policy to introduce more non-stop flights to Indonesia.

“We are hoping that the new service will encourage Australians to venture a bit further than Bali and explore some of the other amazing destinations that Indonesia has to offer,” he said.

The new flights also mean Garuda would offer daily flights to Bali, albeit via Jakarta three times per week in yet another boost to the popular MICE destination ex-Australia.

“While flying via Jakarta may take longer, Bali passengers on these flights will enjoy the benefits of a full service flight with full meal and drink service and the latest in-flight entertainment on an aircraft that is fresh from the factory,” Soeparyono said.

The new flight, GA713, will depart Sydney on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 10:00am and arrive at Jakarta Cengkerang airport at 2:45pm; while flight GA717 will depart Melbourne on Monday, Thursday and Saturday at 9:55am and arrive in Jakarta at 2:45pm.

Soeparyono said introductory airfares would be released to the market in the near future.