BY JAMES WILKINSON
Garuda Indonesia is launching new routes and adding new aircraft in 2012 on the back of strong demand from Australia and across the region.
Garuda is receiving additional A330-200s in 2012
From January to November 2011, Garuda reported an increase in passengers of 36.4 per cent, along with an increased yield of 13 per cent, compared to the corresponding period in 2010.
Garuda Indonesia’s Senior General Manager for Australia/SWP, Bagus Y. Siregar, said the Australian routes – including Sydney-Denpasar, Melbourne-Jakarta, Sydney-Jakarta, Melbourne-Denpasar and Perth-Denpasar – contributed to the growth.
“We’re experiencing high demand on the Australia-Jakarta routes with outbound passenger numbers increasing nearly 12 per cent from 2010 to 150,587 passengers,” he said.
“In 2012 Garuda Indonesia will be making a more concerted effort to expand our international network with new destinations in and beyond Indonesia including services to Taipei and Haneda Tokyo, which will start in Q2.
“These new services will provide our Australian passengers with a seamless connection via our hub in Jakarta and greater access to our Asian network,” Siregar said.
Garuda Indonesia will receive delivery of 11 new aircraft in 2012, including four Boeing 737-800s, two Airbus A330-200s and five sub-100 seat regional aircraft, bringing the average age of the fleet down to 5.7 years.
