National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is tapping into the short-range,
high-density route market by operating its fifth Canadian-made
Bombardier aircraft to connect East Java’s capital Surabaya with Lombok
in West Nusa Tenggara and Central Java’s capital Semarang.
Lombok is targeted for its emerging tourism and Semarang for its vibrant business activities.
In the first stage, the airline has committed to providing a flight per day on each route, which commenced on Dec. 22 to help facilitate year-end holiday travelers.
“The market for both routes is very promising as the demand continues to grow particularly from business travelers and tourists. These routes will help more people to travel between Surabaya, Semarang and Lombok,” said Garuda vice president for corporate communications Pujobroto recently.
He said the new routes would provide more efficient trips for passengers as they did not have to make unnecessary transits in Jakarta or Denpasar, Bali, for the Semarang–Surabaya and Surabaya–Lombok routes, respectively.
“Both routes will also benefit the passengers because as a hub, Surabaya links Indonesia’s major cities in eastern areas such as Makassar [South Sulawesi] and Balikpapan [East Kalimantan],” he said.
As of today, five units of Bombardier sub-100 jets operated by Garuda are serving 26 destinations in the eastern part of Indonesia, helping regional economies to grow.
Makassar-Denpasar, Makassar–Gorontalo, Makassar–Ternate, and Balikpapan–Tarakan are among the routes served by the jets, according to Pujobroto.
“Based on the company’s Quantum Leap program, we are going to take delivery of seven more Bombardier aircraft next year. They will further strengthen Garuda’s domestic network,” he added.
The new Bombardier will operate from the airline’s bases in Makassar, Balikpapan and Surabaya, opening more connections to regional cities such as Biak in West Papua, Ambon in Maluku, Manado in North Sulawesi, Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, and Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara.
By the end of 2015, the airline is set to operate 18 Bombardier aircraft.
In February this year, the airline signed a contract to purchase 18 Bombardier CRJ1000 NextGen planes at the Singapore Air Show with an option to buy another 18.
The aircraft took its maiden flight in Indonesia in October from Garuda’s hub in Makassar.
Garuda president director Emirsyah Satar said the operation of the aircraft was also aimed at supporting the government’s Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia’s Economic Growth (MP3EI), particularly in the Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Papua Economic Corridors.
The environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient sub-100 aircraft are also compatible for airports in eastern areas that have shorter runways.
Currently, the airline is studying both the turboprop Bombardier Q400 and ATR-72 aircraft that they plan to operate next year to expand their business to remote areas.
Throughout the year, Garuda accepted 20 new aircraft, four Boeing 737-800s Next Generation, two Airbus A330-200s and nine A320s for its strategic business unit Citilink Indonesia, and five Bombardier CRJ1000 NextGens.
By the end of 2012, the airline will operate 105 aircraft with an average fleet age of 5.8 years.
Lombok is targeted for its emerging tourism and Semarang for its vibrant business activities.
In the first stage, the airline has committed to providing a flight per day on each route, which commenced on Dec. 22 to help facilitate year-end holiday travelers.
“The market for both routes is very promising as the demand continues to grow particularly from business travelers and tourists. These routes will help more people to travel between Surabaya, Semarang and Lombok,” said Garuda vice president for corporate communications Pujobroto recently.
He said the new routes would provide more efficient trips for passengers as they did not have to make unnecessary transits in Jakarta or Denpasar, Bali, for the Semarang–Surabaya and Surabaya–Lombok routes, respectively.
“Both routes will also benefit the passengers because as a hub, Surabaya links Indonesia’s major cities in eastern areas such as Makassar [South Sulawesi] and Balikpapan [East Kalimantan],” he said.
As of today, five units of Bombardier sub-100 jets operated by Garuda are serving 26 destinations in the eastern part of Indonesia, helping regional economies to grow.
Makassar-Denpasar, Makassar–Gorontalo, Makassar–Ternate, and Balikpapan–Tarakan are among the routes served by the jets, according to Pujobroto.
“Based on the company’s Quantum Leap program, we are going to take delivery of seven more Bombardier aircraft next year. They will further strengthen Garuda’s domestic network,” he added.
The new Bombardier will operate from the airline’s bases in Makassar, Balikpapan and Surabaya, opening more connections to regional cities such as Biak in West Papua, Ambon in Maluku, Manado in North Sulawesi, Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, and Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara.
By the end of 2015, the airline is set to operate 18 Bombardier aircraft.
In February this year, the airline signed a contract to purchase 18 Bombardier CRJ1000 NextGen planes at the Singapore Air Show with an option to buy another 18.
The aircraft took its maiden flight in Indonesia in October from Garuda’s hub in Makassar.
Garuda president director Emirsyah Satar said the operation of the aircraft was also aimed at supporting the government’s Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia’s Economic Growth (MP3EI), particularly in the Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Papua Economic Corridors.
The environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient sub-100 aircraft are also compatible for airports in eastern areas that have shorter runways.
Currently, the airline is studying both the turboprop Bombardier Q400 and ATR-72 aircraft that they plan to operate next year to expand their business to remote areas.
Throughout the year, Garuda accepted 20 new aircraft, four Boeing 737-800s Next Generation, two Airbus A330-200s and nine A320s for its strategic business unit Citilink Indonesia, and five Bombardier CRJ1000 NextGens.
By the end of 2012, the airline will operate 105 aircraft with an average fleet age of 5.8 years.
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