NATIONAL AIRLINE TO MAXIMIZE DIRECT FLIGHT TO REGIONS

National airline, like PT Garuda Indonesia, Tbk and PT Sriwijaya Air, were focusing on direct flight to some regions in the western and eastern parts of Indonesia. PT Garuda Indonesia, Tbk would maximize flights in Sumatera by using its new Bombardier CRJ1000 Next Gen fleets. While, PT Sriwijaya Air would open direct flight to cities in the eastern part using its Boeing fleets.

               

Emirsyah Satar, President Director of PT Garuda Indonesia, Tbk said that maximizing flights to routes in Sumatera will make Medan a hub for Garuda Indonesia flight in the western part. By using “Medan as a hub”, Garuda would serve direct flight from Medan to the surrounding cities. It means that Garuda would open new routes or new flight schedules. The new routes was planned to be started as soon as possible besides addition of frequency from Medan to Pekanbaru, Batam, Palembang, Padang, and Aceh.

               

For flight to these regions, PT Garuda Indonesia’s Management would add fleets by arriving seven additional fleets would be placed in Medan, Balikpapan, and Makassar hubs to open short-distance routes of these hubs. Flight from Medan hub would be served by bombardier CRJ100 fleet with 96 seat capacity with configuration of 12 executive class seat and 84 economy class seats.

               

Additional of routes from Medan would be opened in Maya, i.e. Medan-Banda Aceh and Medan-pekanbaru routes. The additional flight was not only from Medan hub. New routes in Sumatera to be opened are Pekanbaru-Batam roundtrip routes everyday starting early May 2013. Addition of flights will also be opened for Padang-Jakarta routes from five to six times a week.

               

Meanwhile, PT Sriwijaya Air planned to serve direct flight to eastern part of Indonesia starting from end of April 2013, for example, from Denpasar to Dili (Timor Leste). It would also serve flight to Merauke. It would seriously explore flights to the eastern part because of the big potency of this area. Potency of flight to eastern part of Indonesia is very promising in line with regional autonomy program. Therefore, by end of April 2013 the company would open direct flight from Denpasar to Dili (Timor Leste) and direct flight to Merauke, Papua. Sriwijaya Air was ready to strengthen its transportation to eastern part of Indonesia by adding frequency and adding two units of B737-800 fleets. Addition of fleets will be coupled with load factor which reached 90%, said Agoes Soedjono, Senior Corporate communication Manager of PT Sriwijaya Air. (E) 

Business News - April 12,2013