Garuda Indonesia order six Airbus A330-200

PT Garuda Indonesia managed to complete the rescheduling of debt payments the company to European Credit Agency or the ECA amounted to 247 million U.S. dollars until 2016. In line with this, Garuda Indonesia also ordered six Airbus A330 aircraft valued at 1.15 billion U.S. dollars.

"Yes. In principle, the agreement with the ECA has been completed. We ordered six Airbus A330-200," said Emirsyah Satar President Director of Garuda Indonesia. In an official statement mentioned by Garuda Indonesia, Garuda Indonesia announced the reservation of six Airbus A330-200 aircraft in addition to the contracts signed in 1989.

Announcements ordering six A330-200 aircraft is carried out jointly by the President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Emirsyah Satar and Airbus President & CEO Tom Enders and witnessed by the Ministry of Transportation Directorate General of Civil Aviation Herry Bhakti Sungayudha Gumay. The plane was scheduled to start arriving in the fourth quarter of 2012, and will strengthen the ranks of Garuda Indonesia fleet.

Garuda Indonesia currently has four A330-200 aircraft and six A330-300s that it operates. New A330-200 aircraft will be equipped with various features that add convenience of passengers who were divided into two classes service, ie business class and economy class. The aircraft will serve the cities of destination in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Europe. This aircraft will be equipped with Trent 700 engines from Rolls-Royce.

"Since we operate last year, the A330-200 aircraft have been proven to have excellent ability, especially in terms of economic and operational," said Satar, Garuda Indonesia President Director. Tom Enders - Airbus President & CEO - said it was pleased to reestablish the long-term partnership with Garuda Indonesia. "This plane reservations to reaffirm that the A330 aircraft is the most efficient aircraft in the medium category at the moment and the right choice for airlines around the world," he said.

To date, nearly 700 A330-200 aircraft has been operated by 80 airlines around the world.

Flight Frequency to Jeddah 35 times per week

Currently the frequency of flights from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia, especially King Abdul Aziz Airport, Jeddah  already 35 times per week to anticipate the demand of passengers.
"We propose to added the frequency of flight. Before only 21 times per week. As was approved now become 35 times per week to Jeddah," said Director General of Civil Aviation Ministry of Transport Herry Bhakti S Gumay, in Jakarta.
Herry explained, the regulator always facilitate the airline company request who want to fly and add flights to other countries, including international routes to Jeddah.
"Of the total permits, the regulator share the service, among others airline companies. Now Lion Air has allocated five times per week, Garuda Indonesia 11 times and Batavia Air has three times per week," he said.
However, the interest in this international routes are still the three airlines companies Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air and Batavia Air.
Herry also said that other international routes in the Middle East, is currently rampant growth as shown much of the region's airlines are flying to Indonesia.
"If they fly over here, in fact, Indonesian airlines may also fly there. This is the principle of reciprocal," he said.
Some airlines already flying to Indonesia such as Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and other airlines from Dubai and other cities such as Abu Dhabi.

Garuda Indonesia seriously working on Europe market

Garuda Indonesia seriously working on a number of country markets in the region of Europe, as expanded its businesss internationally. "Operational route is planned in June 2010," said Senior General Manager of Garuda Indonesia East Indonesia Area Suranto, at Surabaya, Thursday (19/11).

According to him, the expansion into the European market was done post-removal restrictions fly there some time ago. "This route is offered to passengers who travel from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Dubai. The flight to the region will use Airbus A330-200 series," he said.

About the reasons for opening the route, Garuda Indonesia Corporate Public Relations of East Indonesia Area Erina Damayanti explained, the market potential in several Middle Eastern countries and the European big. "Moreover, citizens of Amsterdam have an emotional relation with Indonesia," she said.

While the selection of Dubai, Erina said, because the city is the fuel depots before continuing the flight to Europe. "We believe the opening of this route can reach passenger load factor around 80 percent," she said. This route, she added, also a flight destination businesspeople and tourists. So far, the majority of them liked to travel via Dubai before traveling to another country. "In addition, we will add domestic routes," she said.

She pointed out, Garuda Indonesia had added the route Surabaya-Jakarta-Pangkal Pinang, and Surabaya-Denpasar-Kupang. The opening of this flight route as well as a good market opportunity. "Target of load factor was around 80 percent," she said. The route Surabaya-Denpasar-Kupang, she optimistically predicted factornya load exceeds 80 percent, with most of the high season of domestic tourists by the end of the year. At that time, they are a lot of trips to Bali and went to Kupang.