Garuda Cabut Pelayanan Visa di Pesawat

TRIBUNNEWS.COM, JAKARTA -Maskapai penerbangan Garuda Indonesia mencabut imigration on board (pelayanan visa di pesawat) pada rute penerbangan Amsterdam-Dubai-Jakarta mulai tanggal 23 Desember 2011. Padahal fasilitas ini telah menjadi merek dagang perusahaan Indonesia tersebut.

Garuda menyediakan fasilitas imigration on board supaya pelanggan tidak perlu mengantri terlalu lama di Cengkareng pada saat tiba di Jakarta, sekitar jam 8 pagi. Namun setelah mengevaluasi penerbangan Amsterdam-Dubai-Jakarta, pihak Garuda menyimpulkan antrian di imigrasi Cengkareng masih belum ada atau sedikit sekali.

Dengan demikian pihak Garuda merasa tidak tepat jika tetap menyediakan fasilitas itu untuk penerbangan dari Amsterdam.
Antrian panjang

Menurut Kepala Regional Garuda Amsterdam-Dubai
Kokoh Ritonga, kepada Radio Nederland Rabu (21/12/2011) Kepala Regional Garuda Amsterdam-Dubai mengatakan masih ada penerbangan internasional Garuda lainnya yang tiba di Jakarta pada saat jam sibuk, di mana kalau tidak memberikan fasilitas imigration on board, antrian akan panjang.

Alasan Garuda mencabut imigration on board antara lain masih terbatasnya tenaga kerja. Untuk bisa melaksanakan pelayanan tersebut harus ada petugas dari imigrasi sendiri dan alat-alat yang diperlukan.

Jadi kita harus memilih mana yang lebih memerlukan. Akhirnya direksi kita memutuskan bahwa prioritas diberikan kepada penerbangan internasional yang tiba di Jakarta pada saat peak hour, kata Kokoh Ritonga.

Kepala regional Garuda Amsterdam-Dubai-Jakarta juga mengakui pengaruh dari langkah ini pasti ada. Tapi ia yakin pelanggan memilih terbang dengan Garuda bukan hanya semata-mata karena faktor imigration on board. Dari survei yang kita laksanakan ada beberapa karakter produk yang menjadi faktor orang memilih Garuda, dan faktornya tidak hanya imigration on board.

Sebagai contoh, Kokoh Ritonga menyebut selain harga dan kualitas pelayanan, juga jadwal penerbangan yang menjadi faktor mengapa penumpang memilih naik Garuda. Maskapai penerbangan Indonesia tersebut hanya transit di Dubai paling lama satu jam. Jadi total penerbangan Amsterdam-Jakarta paling pendek dibandingkan maskapai-maskapai lain.

Salah satu dampak dicabutnya fasilitas imigration on board, menurut Kokoh Ritonga adalah penurunan minat terhadap produk Garuda untuk waktu tertentu. Tapi dengan adanya kelebihan-kelebihan di bidang lain, kita harapkan akan kembali normal.
Sayang sekali

Sementara itu, Sie dari biro perjalanan Sie Tours and Travel di kota Amstelveen sangat menyayangkan keputusan Garuda ini.

Menurut saya ini adalah suatu ekstra pelayanan untuk penumpang. Apalagi sekarang airline-airline lainnya sedang menurunkan harga. Saya sudah ngomong dengan penumpang-penumpang kami. Mereka merasa sangat sayang sekali.

Menurut Sie, cukup banyak orang Belanda, orang Indonesia berwarga negara Belanda atau orang Belanda keturunan Indonesia, yang naik Garuda ke Indonesia. Alasan utama mengapa mereka memilih Garuda adalah karena fasilitas imigration on board.

Sie mengkhawatirkan jumlah penumpang Belanda ke Indonesia pasti akan berkurang akibat pencabutan fasilitas ini. Nilai tambah Garuda kini tinggal harga dan pajak bandara yang masih termasuk murah jika dibandingkan maskapai penerbangan lainnya.

CN-235 MPA ketiga Korean National Guard diserahkan

Bandung (ANTARA News) - Korean National Guard menerima pesawat CN-235 Maritme Patrol Aircraft  ketiga dari hanggar produksi PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), di Bandung, Jumat. Total pesanan pesawat intai maritim menengah dari Korea Selatan itu sebanyak empat unit dengan total nilai kontrak sekitar 94 juta dolar Amerika Serikat.

"Sebelum pesawat CN-235 MPA yang ketiga ini diterbangkan ke Korea Selatan, pesawat telah menjalani serangkaian pengujian sesuai prosedur yang berlaku serta telah menjalani uji penerimaan," kata Direktur Aircraft Integration PTDI, Budiman Saleh.

Korea Selatan sebetulnya memiliki sendiri industri pesawat terbang yang cukup mumpuni di kelas dunia. Namun telah beberapa kali negara itu mempercayakan keperluan pesawat terbangnya kepada PT Dirgantara Indonesia. Ini menjadi bukti keampuhan produk dalam negeri Indonesia dengan harga bersaing di tingkat internasional.

Korea Selatan sejak 1994 tercatat telah menggunakan dua skuadron pesawat CN-235 untuk memperkuat angkatan udaranya.

"Kepercayaan ini tentu harus dipelihara terus agar PTDI memperoleh kontrak-kontrak berikutnya, bukan hanya dari Pemerintah Korea Selatan, melainkan juga dari pelanggan-pelanggan lain yang memang membutuhkan pesawat sekelas CN-235," ujarnya.

Saleh menjelaskan, pesawat CN-235 MPA untuk Korean National Guard pertama dan ke dua telah diserahkan pada Mei 2011, sedangkan untuk pesawat yang keempat akan diserahkan pada kuartal pertama tahun 2012. Kontrak jual beli pesawat KCG ini ditandatangani pada Desember 2008 lalu.

Spesifikasi khusus CN-235 MPA antara lain dilengkapi instrumen radar khusus, forward looking infra red (FLIR-penjejak berbasis infra merah tinjauan bawah), ESM, instrumen identification friend or foe (IFF-pengenal wahana kawan atau musuh), navigasi taktik, sistem komputer taktis, kamera pengintai udara, dan beberapa yang lain. Dua mesin CT7-9C yang masing-masing berkekuatan 1.750 daya kuda dipasang di kedua pilon mesin di bentang sayapnya.

Secara fisik, CN-235 MPA ini berukuran lebih panjang dan memiliki struktur lebih kuat ketimbang seri sipil CN-235. Di bagian hidung di bawah jendela kokpit, terdapat tonjolan berisikan berbagai instrumen khusus itu. Struktur pesawat terbang juga diperkuat karena operasionalisasi CN-235 MPA lebih dominan di wilayah maritim yang berpotensi korosif terhadap metal penyusun pesawat terbang itu.

Secara khusus, Saleh bersyukur dan gembira bahwa restrukturisasi bisnis di lingkungan PTDI terus berjalan. Program restrukturisasi bisnis tersebut bertujuan untuk meningkatkan nilai ekonomi perusahaan.

Melalui upaya restrukturisasi itu PTDI terus mengembangkan dan mempertahankan lini CN-235, kelompok Aircraft Services, dan kelompok Manufacturing Services.

Selain itu PTDI juga terus mencari mitra strategis untuk lini N250, NC-212, Helikopter, dan kelompok Engineering Services, sementara lini usaha pertahanan keamanan dan Advanced Technology Education Center (ATEC) diupayakan agar mampu mandiri. (ANT).

Akhirnya, Sriwijaya Air Dievakuasi ke "Taxi Way"

SLEMAN, KOMPAS.com — Badan pesawat Sriwijaya Air nomor penerbangan SJ-230 PKCKN yang tergelincir di ujung timur landasan pacu (run way) Bandara Internasional Adisutjipto, Yogyakarta, pada Selasa (20/12/2011) lalu, berhasil dipindahkan ke taxi way bandara setempat, Sabtu (24/12/2011) pagi.
Badan pesawat yang telah berwarna putih tersebut dipindahkan dengan cara ditarik menggunakan dua alat berat setelah selama tiga hari tim Teknisi PT Sriwijaya Air berupaya memperbaiki dan memasang roda depan dan belakang kanan yang patah akibat musibah tersebut. Berdasarkan pantauan di lokasi, badan pesawat saat kejadian tergelincir, kemudian terperosok sehingga posisinya berada sekitar 50 meter di sisi kiri ujung timur run way menghadap ke timur. Kini badan pesawat sudah menghadap ke barat.
 
Sebelumnya, Komandan Pangkalan Udara Adisutjipto Yogyakarta Marsekal Pertama Abdul Muis mengatakan, pemindahan pesawat Sriwijaya Air yang tergelincir di ujung timur run way pada Selasa lalu itu diupayakan dilakukan pada Jumat (23/12/2011) malam.
 
Seperti diberitakan, Sriwijaya Air tergelincir dan terperosok di sisi timur landasan pacu Bandara Adisutjipto, Selasa sore sekitar pukul 17.10. Pesawat jenis Boeing 737-300 tersebut membawa 118 penumpang dewasa, tujuh anak-anak, dan empat bayi. Pesawat tersebut berangkat dari Jakarta sekitar pukul 13.45 dari Jakarta.
 
"Namun, karena saat itu bandara ditutup akibat cuaca buruk dan jarak pandang hanya 500 meter, pendaratan dialihkan ke Surabaya. Kemudian mengisi bahan bakar di Surabaya, dan berangkat lagi menuju Yogyakarta," ujarnya.
 
Sebenarnya, pesawat Sriwijaya Air direkomendasikan mendarat di Adisutjipto pukul 17.05. Namun karena ada pesawat Garuda yang juga bersiap mendarat saat itu, maka Sriwijaya Air baru mendarat pada pukul 17.13.
 
Saat pendaratan itulah pesawat Sriwijaya tidak terkendali. Pesawat tidak bisa direm sehingga terus melaju ke sisi timur landasan, tergelincir di sisi kiri landasan, dan baru bisa berhenti saat masuk di area rumput.

15 Menit Terbang, Batavia Air Mendadak Balik

Seorang pramugari menjelaskan bahwa pesawat mengalami kerusakan pengatur tekanan udara.

VIVAnews - Pesawat Batavia Air dengan nomor penerbangan Y6-301 terpaksa kembali lagi ke Bandara Soekarno-Hatta, setelah sempat mengudara selama 15 menit

Menurut informasi, pesawat rute Jakarta-Solo terpaksa kembali ke Jakarta setelah mengalami kerusakan tekanan udara. Menurut pantauan VIVAnews.com, saat sudah mengudara sekitar 10 hingga 15 menit, pilot mengumumkan bahwa pesawat Boeing 737-300 itu harus kembali lagi ke bandara karena "mengalami kerusakan" tanpa menjelaskan lebih lanjut.

Belakangan, setelah mendarat, seorang pramugari menjelaskan bahwa pesawat mengalami kerusakan pengatur tekanan udara, sehingga sesuai prosedur penyelamatan, pesawat harus kembali. Pihak Batavia mengumumkan perlu sekitar 30 menit untuk menyiapkan pesawat pengganti.

Kendati memahami situasi itu, banyak penumpang kecewa, karena pesawat sudah satu jam terlambat dari jadwal. Seharusnya pesawat ke Solo itu berangkat pukul 12.40, namun baru bergerak pukul 13.40 WIB.

Pesawat pun tidak langsung lepas landas melainkan harus menunggu sekitar 10-15 menit. Sementara itu, pihak Batavia menyediakan makan siang dan minuman kepada penumpang yang harus menunggu pesawat pengganti.

Dikonfirmasi, PR Manajer Batavia Air, Eli Simanjuntak membenarkan kejadian tersebut. "Tadi pesawat mengalami masalah teknis. Demi keselamatan penumpang, kami tidak mau ambil risiko," kata Eli kepada VIVAnews.com, Jumat sore.

Saat ini, dia menambahkan, sudah disiapkan pesawat pengganti. "Sudah koordinasi dengan bandara, disiapkan  pesawat pengganti," kata dia. Kapan diberangkatkan? "Sesegera mungkin, segera boarding."

Boeing guns for more MAX orders next year

(Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) vowed to turn the tables on Airbus next year by winning well over 1,000 orders for its narrowbody 737 jets, following the first landmark order from Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) on Tuesday.

Buoyed by a $19 billion firm order for 150 revamped 737 MAX and other jets from the world's largest low-cost carrier, the head of Boeing's commercial division sketched out plans to make 2012 Boeing's year, just as Airbus made headlines in 2011.

European planemaker Airbus (EAD.PA) looks set to win the order race for 2011 by a wide margin after agreeing to refresh its 150-seat passenger jet as the A320neo, with fuel-saving engines.

Boeing has been clawing back share after deciding to revamp its competing 737, but until now it has not had firm signatures on its orders while it has scrambled to finalize the design.
"We will have 1,300 to 1,400 firm orders by this time next year, certainly," Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Jim Albaugh told the Reuters Manufacturing and Transportation Summit on Tuesday by telephone from Dallas.

The Southwest order makes it the first airline to place a firm order for 737 MAX. It also makes the carrier the first operator of the MAX, which will feature a new fuel-efficient engine and is set to enter service in 2017.

"I think next year from an order standpoint again assuming that we don't have a total meltdown in the economy and the financing is still available, next year looks like it's going to be a very good year as well," Albaugh said.

Boeing's order forecast implies that the scales will tip sharply back in Boeing's favour in 2012, barring a fresh surge in demand to the benefit of both manufacturers. But Albaugh said the giant aviation companies would roughly share the largest market segment over time.
"I have full expectation that we will split the market on the MAX and the neo," he said.

Albaugh said Boeing would keep aircraft available for AMR Corp's (AMR.N) American Airlines, whose decision to defect to Airbus for part of a record order in the summer helped Boeing make up its mind to upgrade the 737 rather than wait for a newer design.

AMR filed for bankruptcy last month, raising questions over how quickly it would be able to confirm its order for 737 MAX passenger jets while in Chapter 11.

Albaugh used uncommonly direct language when he put his European archrivals on notice that Boeing would aim to keep up record sales momentum for its 365-seat, long-range 777 mini-jumbo aircraft to exploit a gap left by what he sees as uncertainty over the direction of the future Airbus A350.

Questions over the performance of the larger A350 variants will translate into a "sustained market for the 777," Albaugh said.

Airbus beefed up the design of the A350-1000 in June and said the aircraft would deliver significant improvements compared with the 777 when it hits the market in 2017. But some customers such as Qatar Airways have suggested the changes were not ambitious enough.
"As long as there's disarray in Toulouse, we're going to continue to watch, we're going to continue to keep our powder dry and we're going to continue to talk to our customers about what eventually they're going to need," Albaugh said.

Albaugh said demand for airplanes is robust in general despite economic pressures that threaten travel demand. This is partly because high fuel costs, which are a top expense for airlines, have forced carriers to reassess their fleets.

"We see playing out here the need to replace the older equipment because of rising fuel prices," Albaugh said.

"Rising fuel prices to an extent don't hurt us," he said. But as fuel prices go too high, it starts affecting the world GDP (gross domestic product) and the world GDP really drives air traffic. So it's a big watch item for us and we are concerned about it, but the market is holding up very well."

Albaugh also said the company was on track to meet its production rate target for the 787 Dreamliner, its brand-new, long-delayed, carbon-composite aircraft. The company aims to produce 10 787s per month by the end of 2013. But many aviation industry experts believe that target is too ambitious.

(For more on the Reuters Manufacturing and Transportation Summit, see: )

(For summit blog: blogs.reuters.com/summits/)

Kuwait transfers 8 Boeing 787 orders to Saudi Arabia

Boeing Co stated on Thursday that it has lost 8 orders with regard to 787 Dreamliners in the week which ended Nov. 9 but gained 8 after the move associated with orders in one customer to another, leaving an order book for 787s essentially the same.Boeing had stated on Sunday that Kuwait-based leasing organization ALAFCO experienced altered purchases for that 8 Dreamliners to Saudi Arabian Airlines.

Boeing, which competes for commercial airplane orders with Airbus, has more than 850 Dreamliner purchases orders from more than fifty customers on its book.Boeing’s light-weight, carbon-composite Dreamliner is more than 3 years behind it's original routine because of issues with the supply chain as well as labor.The organization stopped check flights for that plane following an electrical fire on-board among its check planes forced an emergency landing on Tuesday.

The company is actually investigating the incident and it has said that it is simply too earlier to inform if it might affect intends to help to make its first-delivery of the 787 through the middle of the quarter of 2011.Boeing said it also took 3 orders for 737 narrow-bodies from an unknown customer or customers.The organization is seeing a rebound in orders and it has taken orders for a net complete associated with 483 industrial planes so far this season, compared with over 250 in all of 2009.Boeing shares had been down 2.8 % at $65.16 at the end of trading on NYSE on Thursday.

source:  http://www.businesstoday-eg.com/business/middle-east/kuwait-transfers-8-boeing-787-orders-to-saudi-arabia.html

Race is on for sales of Boeing's MAX vs Airbus Neo

(Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) started a year later than its European rival Airbus (EAD.PA) in a race to overhaul the $2 trillion narrowbody aircraft market, and is fighting hard to restore balance to their tense duopoly.

With Boeing's announcement this week that it has a launch customer -- Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) -- for its upcoming 737 MAX, the two planemakers have officially squared off in the competition to make the best -- and best-selling -- narrowbody aircraft: the upcoming MAX vs the upcoming Airbus a320neo.

The two airplane families feature new engines in their current designs. Both planemakers boast superior efficiency, and with Boeing's announcement on Tuesday of the list prices and a better understanding of the capabilities of the three models of its 737 MAX, the company will have an easier time converting its 948 commitments from customers to firm orders.
"We are in a position to start firming up the 948 commitments we have so far and continue to meet Airbus in different campaigns around the world," Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Jim Albaugh told Reuters on Tuesday.

"We got off to a little later start than they did, but I think we've done very well in the four months since we launched the airplane," he said.

Speaking at the Reuters Global Manufacturing and Transportation Summit, Albaugh said Boeing has done enough work on the airplane's configuration to make performance guarantees.

Airbus has taken 1,450 orders and commitments including some 1,200 firm orders for its a320neo family, compared with 948 for the 737 MAX, which includes a single firm order for 150 planes from Southwest. Boeing says its remaining order commitments soon will appear as firm orders on its books.

"Right now, the stage is set for 50/50. You look at the numbers," said Teal Group aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia. "You look at loyalty and so far there's been a very high level of loyalty displayed by customers on both sides."

Airbus orders include 200 aircraft from AirAsia (AIRA.KL), and all-Airbus customer, while Boeing signed up its loyal Asian customer Lion Air of Indonesia for 201 737 MAX aircraft. The difference of just one airplane illustrates the fierce rivalry between the two Asian low-cost carriers as well as their entrepreneur owners.

"I think you're going to see a tremendous run-up in orders of the next six to 12 months," Aboulafia said.

IT COMES DOWN TO ENGINES

The 737 MAX, due to enter service in 2017, will be powered by CFM International engines and promises to reduce burn and carbon dioxide emissions by 10 to 12 percent current single-aisle airplanes. CFM International is a joint venture between General Electric Co (GE.N) and Safran (SAF.PA).

Boeing says the plane also will have lower operating costs.

The neo is due to enter service in 2016, featuring engine options from Pratt & Whitney, a unit of U.S. manufacturer United Technologies Corp (UTX.N), or CFM International. Airbus maintains its aircraft is more cost efficient.

List prices for the MAX range from $78 million to $101.7 million. This compares with $84 million to $106 million for the three neo models.

"Either people are taking two different roads to the same result. Or someone's right and someone's wrong," Aboulafia said.

"The only difference is that Airbus is hedged because they've got a choice of both engines," he said.

Neal Dihora, an aerospace analyst at Morningstar, said Airbus still has a marketing advantage over Boeing simply because it started selling its plane earlier. Airbus unveiled its neo plans in December.

"Airbus is winning this contest because they're showing that they have a product and the ability to actually get these fuel savings into the market place as opposed to just in the design phase," Dihora said.

Boeing has yet to publicize the specs for its upgraded 737, but Albaugh said it is appropriate to view the aircraft as a replacement for the 737 Next Generation.

The current 737 models are the domestic workhorses for many airline customers, seating between 110 and 220 people for short- and medium-haul flights. The largest model of the MAX, the -900, can serve as a replacement for the discontinued 757 on most routes, Albaugh said.

"The 900 is an airplane that in our view can do over 95 percent of the missions that the 757 did," he said.

"In terms of a one-for-one replacement of the 57, it's not one for one, but it's pretty close," Albaugh added.

HOW BOEING ARRIVED AT ITS DECISION TO RE-ENGINE

Until its surprise decision to re-engine the 737 last summer, Boeing had made it clear that it preferred to build an all-new small airplane to take the place of its 737 NG.

The company took the heat from analysts as it dragged out a decision over whether to redesign or re-engine. And it stood by as Airbus notched more than a 1,000 orders for its neo and made inroads into U.S. markets.

In July, Boeing finally bit the bullet and said it would re-engine the aircraft, a move many outsiders perceived as a reaction to interest by American Airlines (AMR.N), a loyal Boeing customer, in buying the neo.

American, which is restructuring under Chapter 11, split its giant order for 460 single-aisle jets worth up to $40 billion between Boeing and Airbus.

In the Reuters interview, Albaugh said there were more considerations than American and that Boeing arrived at its decision on its own terms after consultation with customers.

"Everybody liked the idea of a new airplane. But they wanted an airplane with certainty on a precise date, and they also wanted to understand what the guarantees of that airplane might be," Albaugh said.

He said Boeing was confident it could build the plane and provide 20 percent improvement in efficiency.

"But what we weren't confident of was what the nonrecurring costs would have been for development," he said.

"I was also concerned about the schedule risks associated with that airplane," he said, "so I think we wound up in a good spot."

Albaugh said he believes the MAX has such a pronounced cost-savings advantage over the neo that it will quickly catch up in sales with the neo.

"Right now on the NG (Next Generation), we have more firm orders than they have on the 320 classic," Albaugh said. "And I have I have full expectation that we will split the market on the MAX and the neo as well."

(For summit blog: blogs.reuters.com/summits/)

Pilot Sriwijaya Air Dilarang Terbang, Pilot bersama awak pesawat diberi psikoterapi.

VIVAnews - Maskapai penerbangan Sriwijaya Air melarang pilot Tanto Indarto menerbangkan pesawat sementara waktu, menyusul insiden tergelincirnya pesawat Sriwijaya Air di Bandara Adisutjipto Yogyakarta, Selasa 20 Desember 2011.

"Pilot kami grounded agar sewaktu-waktu dibutuhkan KNKT (Komite Nasional Keselamatan Transportasi) untuk dimintai keterangan dapat segera memberikan keterangan yang dibutuhkan," kata Direktur Safety Sriwijaya Air, Toto Subandoro di Yogyakarta, Kamis, 22 Desember 2011.

Selain itu, dia menambahkan, pilot Tanto juga bisa memulihkan kondisi psikologisnya pasca kejadian dengan terapi. Tak hanya pilot, awak pesawat jurusan 234 dari Surabaya tujuan Yogyakarta juga akan mendapat psikoterapi. 

Saat ini, KNKT tengah menyelidiki penyebab tergelincirnya pesawat dengan memeriksa sejumlah barang bukti. Salah satu tim investigasi KNKT, Chaerudin, mengatakan pihaknya akan membawa kotak hitam (black box) pesawat ke Jakarta untuk diteliti.

"Sejak 2009, Indonesia sudah bisa untuk membuka dan meneliti black box, sehingga tidak perlu dikirim ke luar negeri," katanya.

Selain itu, KNKT meneliti lokasi pesawat yang tergelincir, kondisi landasan, dan beberapa bagian pesawat. Namun, KNKT belum bisa memberi kesimpulan mengenai penyebab kecelakaan dan masih menunggu hasil investigasi. “Investigasi belum semuanya dan masih dalam proses, termasuk data dari awak pesawat,” ujarnya.

Hingga Kamis, 22 Desember 2011, pesawat Sriwijaya Air yang tergelincir masih berada di lokasi kecelakaan, yaitu di areal persawahan sebelah timur Bandara Adisutjipto, Yogyakarta dan masih menunggu proses evakuasi. Badan pesawat tampak sudah dicat putih, sehingga logo Sriwijaya Air tertutupi cat.

General Manager PT Angkasa Pura I Bandara Adisutjipto, Agus Adrianto, menambahkan, pesawat akan dipindahkan ke taxiway yang baru selesai dibangun, sehingga tidak mengganggu lalu lintas bandara.

Akibat insiden ini, lima penumpang dibawa ke rumah sakit karena luka-luka.

Corrected: Boeing 787 delivery delay hits ANA schedule

(Reuters) - All Nippon Airways (9202.T), the first operator of Boeing Co's (BA.N) 787 Dreamliner, said it will postpone the start of Dreamliner service on some international routes because of a delay in receiving another Dreamliner.

In a statement posted on its website on Thursday, the Japanese carrier blamed a "productivity reason" at Boeing for the delay. The airline said it would delay Dreamliner service between Tokyo and Beijing and between Tokyo and Frankfurt.

The Beijing route was scheduled to start in December, but has been rescheduled for January.

"ANA regrets to take the precaution of amending international flight plans. ANA will continue urgent negotiations with Boeing to deliver the 787 as early and as close to the original schedule as possible," the company said.

Boeing, through a spokeswoman, said it was working with ANA to deliver the airplane as quickly as possible but would not comment on the cause of the delay.

The 787 Dreamliner is a light-weight, carbon-composite airplane that is fuel efficient. The airplane was three years behind its development schedule but finally entered service this year.

Boeing aims to ramp up monthly production on the airplane to 10 by the end of 2013 from the current pace of 2.5. Some experts believe the target rate is too ambitious.
Boeing has more than 800 orders for the airplane on its books.

The latest Dreamliner snag contrasts news from Boeing's top rival Airbus (EAD.PA), which said on Friday it topped its 2011 target for superjumbo deliveries when it handed over two A380s in rapid succession, reaching 26 deliveries for the year.

Shares of Boeing were up 51 cents at $71.12 on the New York Stock Exchange at mid-afternoon.

(This December 16 story has been corrected to delete the reference saying Boeing attributed the delay to wiring issue. The error also occurred in initial  story)

Airbus sees at least 30 A380 deliveries in 2012

(Reuters) - Airbus will deliver at least 30 A380 superjumbos in 2012 after meeting its target for at least 25 in 2011, chief operating officer Fabrice Bregier said in remarks published on Friday.

Bregier was speaking to a closed meeting of analysts in London after the European planemaker delivered its 24th A380 for 2011 to Australia's Qantas (QAN.AX) late on Thursday.

Airbus had previously predicted more than 25 A380 deliveries in 2012. Airlines pay on delivery for most of the value of the aircraft, which sells for $375 million at list prices before discounts typically available to customers.

The A380, which went severely off schedule and financial target due to production problems in 2005 and 2006, is expected to make an operating profit before R&D in 2015, based on a euro at $1.35, Bregier said, according to a slide presentation.

He said Airbus had reduced airframe production costs on the world's largest airliner to a level equivalent to 65 on an index where 100 represents the costs in 2009, according to a copy of the presentation issued online. EADS said it would issue a recording of this and other speeches after the two-day event.

The index is expected to fall to 62 in 2012 and 61 in 2013.

Bregier is expected to become chief executive of the world's largest commercial planemaker when key mandates come up for renewal in 2012, with the current chief executive Tom Enders stepping up to run parent EADS (EAD.PA).

Bregier said another aircraft that has seen significant production problems, the Airbus A400M military airlifter, would receive its safety certification in the second quarter of 2012.

The first European troop and heavy cargo transporter is in the assembly line and will be delivered to the French Air Force in March 2013 as agreed with purchasing nations, Airbus said. The aircraft is around four years late due to engine problems.

CORRECTED-Airbus expands order record, Boeing set to rebound

(Reuters) - Airbus is on course to end 2011 with well over 1,600 orders, pushing Boeing (BA.N) to the lowest market share of their 40-year rivalry, but Boeing has stored up momentum for a comeback as both companies put fresh vigour into their most-sold jets.

Although Boeing took a year longer than Airbus to revamp a key model to meet demand for lower fuel costs, both enjoy strong demand as Asian growth and the replacement of old aircraft in the United States blot out the euro crisis, at least for now.

The dominant jetmakers track each other more closely in deliveries, which drive revenues and are considered a gauge of competition. Airbus is expected to remain ahead for the ninth year running as it meets a record goal for 520-530 deliveries.

Airbus has 1,529 firm orders so far this year, including an eight-plane deal announced since its November data.

The number already represents a new record for the European planemaker, which outsold Boeing for most of the past decade, sparking trade friction between Europe and the United States.

This year's lead is particularly pronounced because of demand for the revamped version of its 150-seat A320 jetliner.

The jazzed-up A320neo aims to provide 12-15 percent in fuel savings due to new engines. Boeing has responded with the 737 MAX, a refresh of its most popular model that also involves new engines. Armed with data, both companies say their offering is better.

Underlying Airbus orders are higher still at 1,609 including a previously announced 80-plane deal with Republic Airways that did not immediately enter the order book.

That leaves 174 provisional A320neo orders still to be confirmed, many of which may trickle through in coming days judging by a pattern of chasing deadlines in previous years.
They include provisional orders for a total of 63 airplanes from Mexico's Volaris and Colombian AviancaTaca.

The industry will also be watching to see whether U.S. lessor Air Lease Corp (AL.N) completes a draft order for 36 A320neo planes this year after its influential founder Stephen Udvar-Hazy expressed skepticism even while ordering the jet.

The California-based company has said it is negotiating with Airbus over its future A350, providing some potential leverage.

2012 REBOUND

Boeing, by contrast, has 894 orders so far this year. Business is up since 2010, but Boeing slumped behind Airbus in the 2011 race as it hesitated over whether to match the A320neo or build a more ambitious new aircraft at the expense of near-term sales. It chose the first option by launching the 737 MAX.

"For nine months as Boeing hesitated, they left the A320neo almost alone on the market," Louis Gallois, chief executive of Airbus parent EADS (EAD.PA), told analysts in remarks released this week.

Boeing has effectively ceded 2011 in volume terms to its arch-rival, but may spring further orders before the end of the year.

The only real suspense is over whether Boeing will achieve a 40 percent market share in 2011, the lower end of a 40-60 band that many analysts regard as the framework for a stable duopoly.

Currently it has a volume share of 37 percent and would need to sell over 180 aircraft by end-year to get back to 40 percent, with the target moving away from it as Airbus closes more deals.

The picture for Boeing may not be as bleak as a single year's figure would suggest. On average the rivals remain close.

Boeing has almost 800 provisional contracts for the 737 MAX waiting to be completed, including 462 for which the names of the buyers have not yet been disclosed.

Some may come through in coming days, but the bulk are expected to slip beyond the New Year, giving the company a head start for what many analysts expect to be a bounce-back in 2012.

The company also stuck close to its rival in value terms after a record slew of more than 200 orders for its 777 mini-jumbo.

The $300 million 1990s long-range jet is enjoying a second honeymoon with airlines after Airbus failed to allay criticism of its competing A350-1000, due out in 2017. While Airbus has been in the driving seat for narrowbodies this year, analysts say Boeing is still setting the pace for many larger jets.

The two companies are preparing for a major battle over a $16 billion order expected to cover approximately 180 aircraft from United Airlines (UAL.N) in the first quarter, including possibly 130 of the latest generation of revamped 150-seaters.

The aircraft makers are also expected to push hard over the holiday season to complete aircraft deliveries for 2011.

Airbus has already said it will beat a previous record of 510 deliveries and is expected to reach its goal of 520-530, though this implies its second-busiest December schedule after 2009.

Steady deliveries are seen as the lifeblood for both planemakers in 2012 as doubts gather over the economy and the ability of airlines to pay for their aircraft. Barring global recession, the industry insists for now financing is secure.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Matt Driskill)

ANA announces first 787 Dreamliner routes to USA Seattle and San Jose to become Boeing 787 destinations

TOKYO December 21, 2011- ANA, Japan's largest airline and the launch customer  for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, today announces the first destinations it will fly to in the  USA using the revolutionary aircraft. ANA plans to begin operating services from  Tokyo's Narita airport to Seattle and San Jose from fiscal year 2012 onwards. Flying long-haul services to these two key West Coast destinations will enable ANA  to maximize the Dreamliner's efficiency and performance. The Dreamliner uses 20  percent less fuel than similar-sized aircraft, making it the first mid-sized airplane capable  of flying long-range routes, and offers new standards of passenger comfort because  of its composite structure and interior design.  Shinichiro Ito, President and CEO of ANA Group, commented: "We are very pleased to   announce the launch of further international Dreamliner services to these two new  destinations on the west coast of the United States. We will make full use of the efficiencies   of the 787 as well as capitalizing on our close relationship with United and Continental  Airlines to enhance the competitiveness of our joint ventures with these two Star Alliance  partners." "Seattle is an important international business hub and home to companies such as Microsoft,  Amazon and, of course, Boeing itself while San Jose is in the heart of Silicon Valley.  Passenger demand to fly to both destinations is high, not only from Japan but from many  Asian cities. The launch of these new services will make ANA the only Japanese airline  to operate the two routes, as well as the only carrier to operate the Narita-San Jose route."
About ANA Group All Nippon Airways (ANA) is the ninth largest airline in the world by revenues and the  largest in Japan by passenger numbers. Founded in 1952, it flies today to 78 domestic  and international cities in a fleet of 228 aircraft serving a network of 163 routes.  ANA has 33,000 employees and operates about 1,000 flights a day. In 2010, it carried  43 million passengers and generated revenues of $16bn. ANA has been a core member  of Star Alliance since 1999 and more than 20 million members belong to its Frequent  Flyer Program (ANA Mileage Club). ANA is the launch customer for the world's  newest and most advanced passenger aircraft, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Boeing Delivers 200th Boeing Sky Interior

Norwegian Air Shuttle to operate Next-Generation 737-800

SEATTLE, Dec. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing's (NYSE: BA) popular passenger-inspired 737 Boeing Sky Interior marked its 200th milestone with yesterday's delivery to Scandinavian customer, Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA.

"The superior passenger experience of this exciting new interior has been well received by our customers and the traveling public," said Beverly Wyse, 737 vice president and general manager. "Airlines, like Norwegian Air Shuttle, tell us that they draw value from the many practical improvements we have made in the new design."

Since the first 737 Boeing Sky Interior was delivered in October 2010, 65 airlines and leasing companies have ordered the new interior. Norwegian Air Shuttle was one of the launch customers and the first airline in Europe to introduce the innovative Boeing Sky Interior to its passengers. Yesterday's delivery is the airline's 18th Next-Generation 737-800 with the new interior, making it the largest operating fleet.

"We couldn't be more pleased about being part of this important milestone for the 737," said Bjorn Kjos, chief executive officer of Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA. "With its continuous innovations and best product offerings, the Next-Generation 737 not only benefits Norwegian with its unmatched operating costs, but it also offers more comfort to our customers with the unmatched Boeing Sky Interior and benefits the community at large because of its environmental performance."

Norwegian Air Shuttle, based in Oslo, is the third largest low-fare airline in Europe and the second largest airline in Scandinavia. Norwegian operates 48 Next-Generation 737-800s in its fleet.

Drawing from years of research, the 737 Boeing Sky Interior features new modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals that draw passengers' eyes to the airplane's windows. LED (light emitting diode) lighting allows the airline to put any color into the cabin.

The new design offers larger pivoting overhead stowage bins that add to the openness of the cabin. The bins give more passengers room to store a carry-on roll-aboard near their own seat, adding both extra convenience and extra legroom.

Other features that passengers appreciate are an intuitive placement of switches and call buttons. Boeing redesigned reading-light switches so passengers can find them more easily and avoid accidentally pressing the flight-attendant call button.

Approximately 85 percent of Boeing's backlog of more than 2,300 Next-Generation 737s will be delivered with the Boeing Sky Interior. Customers of the 737 MAX also will benefit from the Boeing Sky Interior.

Source: boeing.com

Lion Air dan Garuda Bakal Tambah Pilot

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Perusahaan penerbangan PT Lion Mentari Airlines akan menambah jumlah pilotnya untuk mengimbangi kenaikan armadanya. "Kami menargetkan akan menambah 200 orang pilot setiap tahun untuk mengimbangi pertambahan armada," kata Edward Sirait, Direktur Umum Lion, Jumat (16/12/2011).

Saat ini, Lion telah memiliki 600 orang pilot. Seperti diketahui, November lalu Lion Air baru saja memesan 230 unit pesawat Boeing 737 Maxs produksi Boeing Co. Rencananya, pesawat ini akan mulai didatangkan tahun 2017.

Edward mengatakan, hingga pemberlakuan ASEAN Open Sky tahun 2015 nanti, Lion memprediksi kebutuhan karyawan baru akan mencapai 22.000 orang, termasuk engineer dan pilot. Selain menambah armada, tahun depan Lion juga berniat memindahkan sekolah pilot Wings Flying School (WFS) yang saat ini berlokasi di Cirebon ke Kalimantan atau Sulawesi. Pemindahan lokasi ini dikarenakan trafik penerbangan di Jawa sudah padat.

Alhasil, tempat latihan calon pilot pun terbatas. Saat ini, WFS dapat mencetak sekitar 100 orang pilot dalam setahun. Setelah dipindahkan, Lion berharap WFS bisa mencetak 300 orang pilot dalam setahun.

Selain Lion, PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk (GIAA) juga tengah berencana menambah pilot. Menurut Emirsyah Satar, Direktur Utama Garuda, pihaknya akan merekrut sekitar 400 pilot hingga 2015. Di saat itu, Garuda berniat mengoperasikan 154 unit pesawat. Saat ini Garuda telah memiliki 1.000 orang pilot.

Kebutuhan pilot yang tinggi juga diakui oleh Bobby Mamahit, KepalaBadan Pengembangan Sumber Daya Manusia Kementerian Perhubungan. Menurutnya, kebutuhan pilot di Indonesia mencapai 800 orang per tahun. Sementara Sekolah Tinggi Penerbangan Indonesia Curug hanya mampu menghasilkan 120 orang pilot per tahun.

Walau ditambah dengan sekolah penerbangan swasta yang bisa mencetak 300 orang pilot per tahun, kebutuhan pilot belum tercukupi. "Karena itu, kami akan menjadikan Bandara Polonia, Medan sebagai basis sekolah penerbangan baru setelah Curug," kata Bobby.

source: kompas.com

Boeing: FAA certifies 787 with Package B engines

Boeing has obtained US FAA certification of the 787 with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 Package B engines, capping a seven month flight test programme for the enhanced 70,000lb thrust turbofan.

Package B upgrades include a modified low-pressure turbine design, relocation of the intermediate pressure compressor bleed off-take ports and improved aerodynamics for the fan outlet guide vanes.

Launch customer All Nippon Airways, will be the first to receive the engines, which Flightglobal has reported will bring specific fuel consumption to within 1% of the original specification.

European Aviation Safety Agency regulators approved the Package B version of the engine earlier this month.

source: flightglobal.com

7,000th Airbus Aircraft Delivered

Airbus announced today that the European plane maker delivered its 7,000th aircraft, an A321, to US Airways – the airline that operates the largest fleet of Airbus aircraft in the world. This milestone comes just two years after the delivery of Airbus’ 6,000th aircraft.

The 1,000th Airbus delivery was an A340-300 that went to Air France in 1993, nineteen years after the first Airbus aircraft was delivered – an A300B2 also to Air France, in 1974.

The 2,000th delivery was six years later in 1999. It took half that time, just three years, to get to the 3,000th delivery in 2002 and three more years to reach 4,000 deliveries.

The tempo went up another notch taking Airbus only two years to hand over its 5,000th aircraft, an A330-200 to Qantas in December 2007. The 6,000th Airbus was an A380 which was delivered to Emirates in January 2010.

By the end of the year, US Airways will operate a fleet of 93 A319s, 72 A320s, 63 A321s and 16 A330s. The airline also has firm orders for additional 58 A320 Family aircraft, eight A330 aircraft and 22 A350 XWBs on backlog.

Photos – The 7,000th Airbus aircraft



Photos: (c) 2011 Airbus S.A.S.

source: flightstory.net

7000th Boeing 737 Delivered

The 7000th Boeing 737 built was delivered yesterday to Dubai-based flydubai. This Next-Generation 737-800 has been equipped with the new Boeing Sky Interior.

“It is incredible to be delivering our 7,000th 737. We thank flydubai and all our customers who have made the 737 the world’s most popular jet airliner,” said Beverly Wyse, vice president and general manager of the 737 program. “This success is due to the years of expertise that thousands of employees continue to build into every Boeing 737 used in private, government and commercial service.”

In November 2010, flydubai had the distinction to be the first airline in the world to offer passengers an enhanced onboard experience with the brand new Boeing Sky Interior.




The 737 is the most produced large commercial jet airliner in history and continues to hit the record books as the program produces airplanes at record rates. The gap between each record delivery is shrinking. It took Boeing 4 years 8 months between the 4,000th and 5,000th, while the gap between the 5,000th and 6,000th delivery was 3 years and 2 months. The 7,000th delivery is just 2 years and 8 months after the 6,000th. With 737 production rates increasing incrementally to a record 42 airplanes a month in the first half of 2014 the gap will continue to close.

The 737 MAX is the new-engine variant of the B737 and builds on the strengths of today’s Next-Generation 737. Powered by the new CFM International LEAP-1B engines, the 737 MAX reduces fuel burn and CO2 emissions.

With more than 5,400 airplanes in service, the 737 represents more than a quarter of the total worldwide fleet of large commercial jets flying today. More than 358 airlines in 114 countries fly 737s.

Photo: (c) Boeing
source: flightstory.com

Boeing Electronic Flight Folder to Be Launched by Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways 777 fleet first to transmit day-of-flight information directly to Electronic Flight Bag

 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Qatar Airways have announced that Qatar Airways will be the launch customer for Boeing's new Electronic Flight Folder (EFF).The carrier will install the EFF on their entire fleet of Boeing 777s, making it the first in the world to transmit day-of-flight data such as flight plans and weather information directly to the 777 Class 3 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB).
Qatar Airways will also install the Electronic Flight Folder on their future Boeing 787 fleet, making it the first airline to deploy such advanced operational software on both models. The carrier will begin using Electronic Flight Folder in 2012.

EFF is a software application that runs on an airplane's Electronic Flight Bag, allowing pilots to conduct route briefing and log flight progress directly on the EFB. The suite of EFF applications helps the airline to achieve ground report efficiencies and to reduce or eliminate paper printing, handling and storage costs.

"We are delighted to have Qatar Airways as our launch customer for the Electronic Flight Folder," said Per Noren, vice president of Information Services for Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. "They are an excellent, long-term customer and we are committed to making them even more successful by helping them connect their data and transform it into actionable, real-time information."

"Qatar Airways is pleased to take part in the development and introduction of the EFF across its Boeing fleet," said Ra'ed Ayoub, Qatar Airways vice president, Flight Operations Technical. The airline will continue to work jointly with Boeing to further develop aircraft systems and applications that take advantage of technological innovation to enhance safety and increase operational efficiency.        

Boeing received U.S. Federal Aviation Administration certification for its Class 3 EFB in November 2003, when the first commercial unit was delivered to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.  Boeing has orders for more than 1500 of their industry-standard EFBs. 

source: boeing.com

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Completes Change Incorporation in San Antonio

EVERETT, Wash., Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The first Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner to undergo change incorporation work in San Antonio, Texas, returned to Everett on Nov. 13. The airplane completed an eight month change incorporation program and will now go through final preparations in Everett before delivery to Japan Airlines (JAL).

"We are making steady progress on our 787 change incorporation work statement," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "The Boeing San Antonio team has been a great partner. We appreciate their commitment to quality as we prepare these airplanes for delivery to our customers."

During change incorporation, airplanes that are not part of flight test are configured to conform with the standards established by the type certification. Some of the work done in San Antonio includes installing electronic and mechanical equipment, completing software upgrades, testing functional systems, and removing and reworking wiring or equipment that needs to be updated to current configuration requirements.

The current plan is for a total of six Dreamliners to complete change incorporation and refurbishment in San Antonio. Three will complete change incorporation and three airplanes will be refurbished after flight test is complete. However, the plan is flexible and could accommodate additional 787 production needs as flight test is completed and airplanes are prepared for delivery. The work will be performed through 2013.

source: boeing.com

Boeing Business Jets Delivers First BBJ to Nanshan Jet of China

- China emerging as key market for business jets

 

SEATTLE, Dec. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) Business Jets today announced the delivery of a BBJ to Nanshan Jet of Yantai, China, rounding out a strong year of orders and deliveries to Chinese customers.

Representatives of Nanshan Jet took delivery of the airplane at the Boeing Delivery Center in Seattle. This is the first BBJ for Nanshan Jet and one of the first aircraft the company will operate on its own.

"Previously our jets were operated by Air China. We're thrilled to begin this new adventure with Boeing as our partner," said Bin Yu, president of Nanshan Jet.

 Yu adds the BBJ is Nanshan Jet's largest, most capable aircraft in their fleet of seven and will provide charter services for corporations, government agencies and private individuals in China.

"Flying farther, with lower cabin altitude and with nearly three times the interior space of the largest traditional business jets, Nanshan Jet is going to love their BBJ," said Capt. Stephen Taylor, BBJ president.

Boeing delivers the BBJ to the customer 'green' (no interior or paint) so it can be customized to suit specific needs and tastes. Nanshan Jet has selected Lufthansa Technik's U.S. Subsidiary, BizJet International, to complete its BBJ interior in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It will be configured to carry 28 passengers.

Three of four BBJ orders and three of seven deliveries this year were to customers in China. 2012 is expected to be equally as strong for BBJ in the region.

source: boeing.com

Boeing CEO McNerney Statement on Russia WTO Membership Progress

CHICAGO, Dec. 16, 2011 -- Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney today welcomed the World Trade Organization’s Ministerial Conference decision to invite Russia to join the WTO, with membership expected to be finalized by June of next year.

“Russia is one of the world’s major economies—and the largest that’s not yet part of the WTO—so this is welcome news for the global economy, and especially for citizens of the United States and Russia. Russia is an important trading partner for Boeing and other U.S. exporters, and we’re excited about the prospects for increased trade and jobs, and enhanced global cooperation,” said McNerney.  “Russian airlines have become valued customers of Boeing products, purchasing 147 commercial airplanes from us in the past 10 years. 

The Boeing Design Center in Moscow and our titanium parts production joint venture with Russian Technologies, Ural Boeing Manufacturing, are powerful examples of U.S. and Russia economic partnership. We see Russia’s membership in the WTO as a win-win for both of our countries,” he said.

source: boeing.com

Boeing Delivers the 7,000th 737

- Boeing delivers milestone airplane to Middle East low-cost carrier flydubai

- Popular single-aisle is the best-selling commercial airliner family in history.

 

SEATTLE, Dec. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Boeing (NYSE: BA) delivered the 7,000th 737 to come off the production line to Dubai-based flydubai. The airplane is flydubai's 14th Next-Generation 737-800 with the new Boeing Sky Interior. The Boeing 737 is the best-selling commercial jetliner of all time with total orders exceeding 9,300 airplanes, including orders for the new 737 MAX.

"It is incredible to be delivering our 7,000th 737. We thank flydubai and all our customers who have made the 737 the world's most popular jet airliner," said Beverly Wyse, vice president and general manager of the 737 program. "This success is due to the years of expertise that thousands of employees continue to build into every Boeing 737 used in private, government and commercial service."

In November 2010, flydubai had the distinction to be the first airline in the world to offer passengers an enhanced onboard experience with the brand new Boeing Sky Interior. Today's delivery will be the 21st in flydubai's fleet and the airline has an additional 30 737-800s on order.

"We are proud to be a part of this important milestone for the 737," said Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai. "With its continuous innovations, the Next-Generation 737 brings the right combination of operational and environmental performance to address the requirements of our markets."  Ghaith adds, "The Next-Generation 737 is a major cornerstone to flydubai's modern, fuel-efficient and economical portfolio of commercial jets."

The 737 is the most produced large commercial jet airliner in history and continues to hit the record books as the program produces airplanes at record rates. The gap between each record delivery is shrinking. It took Boeing 4 years 8 months between the 4,000th and 5,000th, while the gap between the 5,000th and 6,000th delivery was 3 years and 2 months.

The 7,000th delivery is just 2 years and 8 months after the 6,000th. With 737 production rates increasing incrementally to a record 42 airplanes a month in the first half of 2014 the gap will continue to close.

The 737 MAX is the new-engine variant of the world's best-selling airplane and builds on the strengths of today's Next-Generation 737. Powered by the new CFM International LEAP-1B engines, the 737 MAX reduces fuel burn and CO2 emissions by an additional 10-12 percent over today's most fuel-efficient single-aisle airplane, the Next-Generation 737.

It will have the lowest operating costs per seat in the single-aisle segment with a 7 percent advantage over tomorrow's competition.

To date, Boeing has received orders and commitments for more than 900 airplanes from 13 customers for the 737 MAX, while the Next-Generation 737 family has won orders for more than 6,200 airplanes with a backlog exceeding 2,300 airplanes.

With more than 5,400 airplanes in service, the 737 represents more than a quarter of the total worldwide fleet of large commercial jets flying today. More than 358 airlines in 114 countries fly 737s.

source: boeing.com

Belanda Ogah Jual Tank ke Indonesia

Rabu (14/12), parlemen Belanda menyetujui mosi penolakan rencana penjualan tank ke Indonesia. Rencana penjualan sejumlah tank Leopard oleh Kementerian Pertahanan ditolak Parlemen Belanda karena Belanda tidak ingin terlibat dalam pelanggaran hak asasi manusia.

Mayoritas anggota parlemen menyetujui mosi yang diajukan partai Kiri Hijau (GroenLinks). Hanya partai memerintah CDA (Kristen Demokrat) dan VVD (Liberal Konservatif) yang menentang penolakan ini. Pengaju mosi, Arjan El Fassed, mengatakan track record Indonesia berperan kuat dalam pengambilan keputusan ini.

Track record

"Keputusan penolakan berkaitan erat dengan track record Indonesia. Kita tahu mereka telah memporakporandakan Aceh, Timor Timur. Baru-baru ini juga terjadi kerusuhan di Papua," ujar El Fassed.

Menurut anggota parlemen dari GroenLinks ini, penjualan tank kepada Indonesia berisiko besar terhadap pelanggaran hak asasi manusia. Tank kemungkinan besar bisa dipergunakan untuk menghabisi para demonstran.

"Kami di Eropa sudah menyepakati kriteria penjualan senjata dan alat-alat perang. Menjaga HAM adalah salah satu kriteria. Kami tidak ingin berpartisipasi jika kami merasa bahwa ada kemungkinan penyimpangan hak asasi manusia. Melihat situasi Indonesia saat ini, bagaimana mereka melecehkan hak asasi manusia, menurut kami sangatlah tidak bijaksana untuk menjual tank kepada Indonesia."

Akhir November lalu, Menteri Pertahanan Belanda, Hans Hillen mengatakan kepada parlemen, pemerintah Indonesia menyatakan minatnya membeli sejumlah tank Leopard Belanda. Kementerian Pertahanan berniat menjual 60 tank Leopard lamanya pada Indonesia sebagai bagian dari langkah penghematan drastis.

Menurut parlemen, penjualan alat utama sistem pertahanan (alusista), dalam hal ini tank, harus memenuhi kriteria internasional: penghormatan hak asasi manusia, patuhnya negara calon pembeli pada kewajiban internasional serta pada kondusifnya situasi politik dan kondisi keamanan negara.

Terkejut

Pengamat militer Indonesia, Dr. Salim Said menyatakan sangat terkejut dengan keputusan yang dikeluarkan parlemen Belanda. Dia menyatakan baru mengetahui minggu ini rencana TNI membeli tank buatan Jerman itu dari pemerintah Belanda.

"Saya pikir tidak ada masalah. Tapi ketika saya dengar Tweede Kamer (parlemen, Red.) Belanda menolak, nah ini berita yang mengejutkan. Lebih lagi, saya merasa hubungan kedua negara baik-baik saja. Menurut saya selama ini tentara Indonesia sudah bereformasi. Para pemimpinnya juga sudah generasi muda. Ini kan sudah lebih dari sepuluh tahun," katanya kepada Radio Nederland.

Dampak bilateral

Penolakan, menurut Salim Said bisa berakibat kurang sedap bagi hubungan kedua negara. Apalagi menurutnya, beberapa waktu lalu Presiden Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono sampai harus membatalkan kunjungannya ke Belanda.

"Pasti akan berdampak. Apalagi di tengah situasi Papua yang lagi menghangat. Banyak kecurigaan di Indonesia bahwa ada elemen-elemen Belanda yang masih bermain di Papua sana yang mempersulit Indonesia dan pembatalan kunjungan SBY kemarin. Saya tidak terlalu tahu seberapa jauh dampak itu. Mudah-mudahan tidak terlalu jauh."

Lebih jauh, Salim Said mengomentari penolakan parlemen atas dasar situasi politik dan keamanan Indonesia yang tidak kondusif sebagai "hal yang ajaib". "Indonesia aman-aman saja," ujarnya.

Ekor Papua

Salim Said tidak setuju jika alasan pelanggaran HAM di Indonesia menjadi alasan penolakan penjualan tank. Itu masa lalu. Kalaupun sekarang ada, tidak lagi seserius masa lalu, karena tentara sudah tidak terlibat.

"Bahwa ada pergolakan, ada demonstrasi tiap hari di berbagai kota, itu kan ciri khas dari sebuah demokrasi. Di Belandapun sering terjadi begitu. Lagian, semua urusan demonstrasi adalah urusan kepolisian. Militer sudah menarik diri dari semua urusan keamanan dalam negeri dan dari campur tangan politik."

Menurutnya ada kemungkinan informasi yang didapatkan pemerintah Belanda tidak akurat. Memang benar saat ini terjadi pergolakan di Papua, tapi ini harusnya dilihat sebagai campur tangan Belanda.

"Sejak KMB (Konferensi Meja Bundar, Red.), Belanda selalu campur tangan terhadap integrasi Papua ke Indonesia. Ekornya sampai sekarang."

Pembaharuan

Sebanyak 60 tank ingin dibeli Indonesia dari Belanda. Perlukan sebanyak itu?
Ya, menurut Salim. "TNI lemah sekali persenjataannya. Lama sekali tidak dilakukan pembelian. Ini tujuannya untuk upgrade, pembaharuan. Kita tidak agresif, kita menjaga negeri kita. Demikian, Salim Said kepada Radio Nederland.

source: http://www.rnw.nl/bahasa-indonesia/article/belanda-ogah-jual-tank-ke-indonesia

Bahasa Belanda Tidak Laku di Nusantara

Orang Indonesia selalu bangga punya satu bahasa sebagai bahasa nasional. Bahasa ini bukan warisan bangsa penjajah. Mungkin ada orang Indonesia bertanya mengapa berlainan dengan Spanyol, Portugal, Prancis atau Inggris di bekas jajahan mereka, Belanda tidak memberlakukan bahasanya di Nusantara? 

Rasanya seperti ada sesuatu yang terlewat pada setiap bulan bahasa, sebagai bagian ritual mengenang heroiknya Sumpah Pemuda. Itulah mengajukan dan berupaya mencari jawaban terhadap sebuah pertanyaan penting: mengapa penjajah Belanda dulu tidak mewajibkan warga Nusantara berbahasa Belanda? Bukankah di Filipina, Spanyol memberlakukan bahasa mereka, seperti juga Portugal di Timor Lorosa’e?

Tak berwawasan

Kekuatan kolonial Eropa lain: Inggris, Prancis, Spanyol dan Portugal, memang selalu membuat wilayah jajahan mereka juga berbahasa penjajah. Bahasa-bahasa Inggris, Prancis, Portugis dan Spanyol bukan saja menjadi bahasa pemerintahan di Afrika, Asia Selatan dan Amerika Latin, tetapi juga merupakan bahasa yang diajarkan di sekolah-sekolah pada belahan dunia itu.

Alhasil ketika kolonialisme berakhir, negara-negara yang merdeka dari jajahan Inggris, Prancis, Portugal dan Spanyol tetap menggunakan bahasa (bekas) penjajah sebagai bahasa nasional. Atau, walaupun sudah punya bahasa nasional seperti Maroko atau Aljazair yang berbahasa Arab, Bahasa Prancis seolah merupakan bahasa nasional kedua yang sekaligus merupakan bahasa penghubung dengan dunia internasional.

Mengapa penjajah Belanda tidak berbuat serupa di Indonesia? Jawabannya panjang dan rumit, serta bergantung dari zamannya. Kalau harus disingkat dan dipermudah mungkin bisa dikatakan itulah watak orang Belanda. Orang Belanda dikenal kikir, tidak suka membuang kebiasaan (apalagi kebiasaan yang murah) dan, dalam soal bahasa ini, mereka juga tidak terlalu punya wawasan masa depan.

Kalau Indonesia juga berbahasa Belanda, maka sekarang bahasa ini akan digunakan oleh nyaris 300 juta orang, sementara sekarang tidak sampai 100 juta orang. Watak tak berwawasan ini akhirnya memang menguntungkan kita. Ketika menjadi Indonesia (harus diakui ini berkat Belanda) kita akhirnya berbahasa Indonesia, tidak berbahasa Belanda.

Dialek kreol

Satu hal penting perlu ditegaskan, Belanda mulai menguasai Nusantara sebagai sebuah perusahaan dagang multinasional: VOC. Sebagai perusahaan, VOC jelas hanya memburu laba yang dilakukannya melalui monopoli serta kekerasan.

Perusahaan multi nasional pertama ini tidak merasa perlu membahasabelandakan wilayah-wilayah yang dikuasainya. Langkah ini pasti butuh biaya besar yang jelas akan mengurangi laba. Karena itu tetap digunakan bahasa setempat atau bahasa Melajoe, toh bahasa ini sudah lama merupakan lingua franca (bahasa pengantar) kepulauan Nusantara.

Ini berarti bahwa bahasa Belanda harus bisa bersaing dengan bahasa-bahasa yang sudah ada di Nusantara. Selain bahasa Melajoe dan bahasa daerah yang begitu banyak, pada zaman VOC itu, bahasa Portugis juga banyak digunakan.

Menurut Lilie Suratminto, dosen dan peneliti bahasa Universitas Indonesia, orang Portugis sudah 100 tahun lebih awal tiba di Nusantara ketimbang Belanda. Jadi, selain bahasa Melajoe, bahasa Portugis juga banyak dipakai, terutama di Batavia dan Ambon. Tentu saja bahasa Portugis ini berbeda dengan yang ada di Portugal, karena bahasa ini adalah dialek kreolnya.

Sebenarnya, dalam soal bahasa, VOC sudah mengambil langkah-langkah tertentu yang bertujuan memperluas penyebaran bahasa Belanda. Di Maluku dibuka sekolah dalam bahasa Belanda, selain itu pada pelbagai gereja protestan juga berlangsung kebaktian dalam bahasa Belanda. Tapi ternyata bahasa Belanda tidak juga memasyarakat di Maluku. Di luar sekolah, anak-anak tetap berbahasalokal dan dan pengunjung gereja berbahasa Belanda tetap itu-itu saja, jumlah mereka tidak bertambah.

Alhasil ketika pada awal abad 19 VOC bangkrut, bahasa Belanda di Nusantara tidak mengalami kemajuan. Jangankan bahasa pengantar, jumlah orang berbahasa Belanda waktu itu juga tidak mengalami peningkatan. Dengan begitu, langkah-langkah yang ditempuh VOC di bidang bahasa jelas telah gagal.

Bahasa ekslusif

Setelah VOC bangkrut, Nusantara diambil alih oleh pemerintah Belanda, lahirnya Hindia Belanda pada abad 19. Memang Inggris sempat memerintah, tetapi begitu Nusantara kembali ke tangan Belanda, tidak ada terobosan terhadap politik bahasa VOC yang gagal itu.
Bahasa Belanda tetap ekslusif, tidak dibuka untuk umum. Para peneliti bahasa melihat paling sedikit ada dua sebab. Pertama Belanda takut munculnya semacam bentuk dialek bahasa mereka di Nusantara. Ini sudah terjadi dengan bahasa Portugis yang digunakan di Batavia misalnya.

Mereka yang berbahasa Portugis itu tidak merasa terikat dengan Portugal. Padahal Belanda ingin supaya mereka yang bisa berbahasa Belanda tetap setia pada mereka.

Kedua penguasaan bahasa Belanda oleh massa rakyat, terutama kalangan yang tidak beragama Nasrani, dianggap berbahaya. Karena itu politik bahasa pemerintah Hindia Belanda pada Abad 19 itu hanya diarahkan pada warga kulit putih dan tidak kepada massa rakyat Nusantara.

Bahkan pada tahun 1864 diputuskan untuk tidak lagi mengupayakan bahasa Belanda sebagai bahasa pengantar di Nusantara, menggantikan bahasa Melajoe. Bahasa Belanda hanya diajarkan di sekolah-sekolah Belanda yang juga menerima sedikit murid elit pribumi, yaitu kalangan ningrat.

Sebaliknya, orang-orang Belanda yang berniat meniti karier di Hindia Belanda diwajibkan fasih berbahasa Melajoe, syukur-syukur kalau menguasai salah satu bahasa daerah.

Pada awal abad 20 Belanda mengubah politik kolonialnya, ketika memberlakukan apa yang disebut Politik Etis. Bertujuan untuk mendidik dan mengangkat martabat pribumi Inlanders, zaman ini ditandai dengan dibukanya pelbagai lembaga pendidikan. Bahasa Belanda menjadi salah satu mata pelajaran wajib. Apakah itu berarti peningkatan jumlah orang yang fasih berbahasa Belanda?

Jawabannya bisa diikuti pada bagian kedua, minggu depan.


source: http://www.rnw.nl/bahasa-indonesia/article/bahasa-belanda-tidak-laku-di-nusantara
 

Indonesia's Lion Air rises from obscurity

A decade ago, Rusdi Kirana sat on the grass at an air show in Britain, eating burgers with his wife. "I didn't know anybody," he says, "and nobody knew me." That will change now that his company, Lion Air, has announced the biggest order ever from Boeing.

The once litte-known Indonesian airline says it is planning to buy 230 planes from Boeing Co. The bill - with a list price of $21.7 billion - is to be paid over 12 years though bank financing.

Dozens of airlines have emerged in Indonesia since it deregulated its aviation industry in the 1990s, making air travel affordable or the first time for many across the sprawling island nation of 240 million, and luring passengers away from ferries and trains.

Kirana - a travel agent before he and his brother, Kusnan, pooled $850,000 to start Lion Air in 1999 - saw the opportunity and jumped.

"Last year we had 21 million passengers,this year I think I can carry 27 million," said the 48-year-old CEO, adding that with plans for an open-sky arrangement in Asia by 2015, a massive Boeing purchase "is not much of a gamble."

Kirana said his company's first plane was a leased Boeing 727-100, which flew from Jakarta to the tiny airport of Pontanak on jungle-clad Borneo island.

"I didn't have any money after that, because it all went to pay for the deposit on the aircraft," he said.

Though the name Lion Air doesn't resonate internationally, it's hardly an unknown, said Peter Harbison, executive chairman of the Sydney-based Center for Asia Pacfic Aviation.

"It's operating 67 aircraft at the moment and had 125 on order before this deal," he said, adding with new routes to Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan, it's clear it wants to be a real player in the region as well.

"It's a bet on Asia," Harbison said of the proposal to buy the 230 planes - most of which are 737 Max, a new version of Boeing's most popular plane with more fuel-efficient engines.

The biggest market for now is home.

The number of air passengers in Indonesia jumped 22 percent from 43 million in 2009 to 53 million in 2010, according to Indonesia's statistics agency.

That trend has continued in 2011.

But the country also has had its share of accidents, raising concerns that the supply of trained aviation professionals, regulatory oversight and ground infrastructure can't keep up with growth.

In 2007, the European Union banned all of Indonesia's 50 airlines from landing on its runways for two years, and Lion Air has not gone unscathed.

In 2004, a Lion Air MD-82 crash-landed at the airport in Surakarta, killing 25 people in its only fatal accident. There also have been scores of other incidents, including hard landings and overshooting runways, some causing injuries or damage to planes.

"Yes, we've had some problems," said Kirana, adding that planes now have equipment that warns pilots when they are flying too high or too fast. "But we're improving."

With 50,000 passengers a day, his bet, he says, is on the future.

Lion Air to introduce onboard Wi-Fi connection, phone service

Passenger will be able to connect to the Internet and use their cell phones onboard Lion Air’s full services-flights, which will be operated by its subsidiary, Space Jet, in 2013.

"This [Wi-Fi and telephony] service will be the first of its kind in Indonesia," Lion Air director Edward Sirait said Thursday as quoted by tribunnews.com. "We are currently preparing the aircraft, which will be equipped with Wi-Fi and telephony facilities."

The aircraft to be used for the services are part of the 230 Boeing 737 ordered by the company from US aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. worth US$21.7 billion.

Edward said the company planned to fly the new planes in 2013.

Currently, the airliner is processing a flight permit from the Transportation Ministry, Edward added.

Lion Air to add 24 aircraft in 2012

PT Lion Mentari Airlines says it will add 24 aircraft to its fleet next year, which will leave the private airline with a fleet of 119 planes by the end of 2012.

Lion Air general affairs director Edward Sirait said that the new aircraft would comprise Boeing 737-900 ERs. The company has targeted operating 178 Boeing 737-900 ERs.

“We will add 24 aircraft next year and will phase out MD-90 aircraft. We will send them back to its manufacturer in the US,” Edward said Friday in Jakarta as quoted by tribunnews.com.

According to Edward, Lion Air and its subsidiary Wings Air currently operate 99 aircraft, comprising 60 Boeing 737-900 ERs, two Boeing 747-400s, two Boeing 737-300s, nine Boeing 737-400s, four MD 90s, four MD 82s, three DASH 8 and 15 ATR-70s. (swd)

Garuda Bingung Pilih Pesawat Sub-100

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Hingga saat ini, PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk belum bisa menentukaan jenis pesawat sub-100 seater atau pesawat dengan kapasitas 100 penumpang ke bawah. Dua jenis pesawat yang saat ini sedang ditender sama-sama memiliki keunggulan yang dibutuhkan oleh Garuda. Embraer 190 buatan Brasil atau Bombardier yang buatan Kanada.

"Kami masih bingung memilih karena keduanya sama-sama tangguh dan menguntungkan untuk sub-100," kata Direktur Keuangan Garuda, Elisa Lumbantoruan, di Jakarta, Rabu (30/11/2011).

Akibat sama-sama bagusnya, hingga sekarang manajemen maskapai BUMN tersebut belum memutuskan. Sebelumnya, Elisa mengatakan pesawat yang terpilih akan diumumkan pada Dubai Air Show di Uni Emirat Arab, pertengahan Oktober lalu, tetapi ternyata ditunda.
Meski demikian, jelasnya, saat ini Garuda telah menggunakan sub-100, yaitu Boeing 737-500, yang jumlahnya lima unit. "Mungkin pada kuartal pertamaa 2012 kita sudah menggunakan jenis pesawat yang baru itu," ujarnya.

Garuda rencananya akan menggunakan Embraer atau Bombaardier sebanyak 18 unit untuk memenuhi kebutuhan layanan penerbangan dengan rute-rute khusus, misalnya untuk di Pulau Sumatera atau Kalimantan.

source: kompas.com

Garuda Tambah Jadwal Penerbangan ke China

QINGDAO, KOMPAS.com - Mulai akhir tahun ini, maskapai penerbangan Garuda Indonesia akan menambah jadwal penerbangannya ke China. Jadwal penerbangan Jakarta-Beijing dari sebelumnya hanya tiga kali penerbangan, maka akhir tahun ini akan ditambah menjadi 5 kali penerbangan. Adapun jadwal penerbangan Jakarta-Beijing yang sebelumnya hanya 4 kali akan ditambah menjadi daily atau harian atau menjadi 7 kali seminggu.


Penambahan jadwal penerbangan seminggu penuh untuk rute Jakarta-Beijing ini mengikuti sute sebelumnya yaitu Jakarta-Guangzhou di mana sudah dilayani 7 kali dalam seminggu. "Kami ingin mendukung program pemerintah meningkatkan kunjungan wisatawan China ke Indonesia sebanyak 1 juta orang setahun," tutur General Manajer Garuda Indonesia Beijing-China, Asa Perkasa, Selasa (29/11/2011) saat ditemui dalam acara Promosi Perdagangan, Pariwisata dan Investasi Indonesia-China 2011 di Qingdao, China.

Saat ini kunjungan wisatawan China ke Indonesia mencapai 500.000 orang dalam setahun. Target pemerintah Indonesia adalah mendatangkan wisatawan China ke Indonesia sebanyak 1 juta orang pada tahun 2013.

"Untuk itu kami juga tengah berupaya mempermudah pengeluaran visa untuk wisatawan China. Jika sebelumnya kami sudah memberlakukan visa on arrival (visa saat tiba di tempat) pada wisatawan China yang berkunjung ke Indonesia, maka kini kami tengah berusaha membuat terobosan visa on board atau visa sudah diurus saat wisatawan terbang ke Indonesia. Jadi setelah tiba di bandara, visa sudah jadi. Sehingga pengunjung China tinggal berwisata di Indonesia," ujar Duta Besar RI untuk China, Imron Cotan.

Visa on board ini, menurut Imron, sudah diberlakukan untuk wisatawan Jepang.

source: kompas.com

Garuda Buka Tiga Rute Internasional

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Meskipun kondisi bisnis penerbangan dunia sedang lesu, tidak menyurutkan PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk untuk melakukan ekspansi membuka rute internasional.

Pada 2012 mendatang, maskapai BUMN ini berencana membuka tiga rute di Asia. Rute tersebut adalah Jakarta-Tokyo (melalui Bandara Haneda, Jepang), Jakarta-Taipei (Taiwan) dan Jakarta-New Delhi (India).

Direktur Utama Garuda, Emirsyah Satar mengatakan, sebenarnya Garuda telah menerbangi Tokyo, namun penerbangannya melalui Bandara Narita, nah pada 27 April 2012 nanti maskapai tersebut akan bekal menerbangi Haneda.

"Kalau Haneda itu berada di dalam kota Tokyo, jadi tidak perlu waktu lama untuk ke tujuan bila ada keperluan di Tokyo. Ini akan menjadi segmen tersendiri," kata Emir di Jakarta, belum lama ini.

Menurutnya, rute Haneda akan dilayani sebanyak lima kali seminggu dengan menggunakan pesawat Airbus A330-200.

Sementara Taipei bakal diterbangi dari Jakarta mulai 19 Mei tahun depan, sedangkan Jakarta-New Delhi bakal digarap pada kwartal ketiga 2012.

source: kompas.com

Garuda to open three int’l routes next year

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 12/15/2011 10:29 AM

PT Garuda Indonesia says it will open three new international routes in 2012: Jakarta-Tokyo through Haneda airport, Jakarta-Taipei and Jakarta-New Delhi.
Garuda president director Emirsyah Satar said that the national flag carrier currently offered service to Tokyo through Narita airport, creating an opportunity to expand service through Haneda.
“Haneda is located inside Tokyo, so it will be more efficient and time-saving to take this route if we have business here in Tokyo,” he said recently as quoted by tribunnews.com.
Emirsyah said that the Haneda route would be served five times a week with Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

The route to Taipei would start operations on May 19 and to New Delhi on the third quarter in 2012. (drs)

source: The Jakarta Post

Penerbangan Garuda Jakarta-Amsterdam Tidak Terganggu

Perwakilan Garuda Indonesia di kota Amsterdam, Belanda, menegaskan, jadwal penerbangan Jakarta-Amsterdam tidak akan mengalami gangguan, pasca pendaratan darurat di Bandara Frankfurt, Jerman.

Keterlambatan sejauh ini hanya terjadi pada penerbangan Amsterdam-Jakarta pada tanggal 16 Desember.

"GA 089 baru berangkat pukul 13:07 waktu Amsterdam, terlambat tiga jam dari jadwal semula," kata Angki Maramis, Station Manager Garuda Indonesia di Belanda. Penumpang di Bandara Schiphol harus menunggu pesawat Airbus A330-200 yang harus "transit" mendadak di Frankfurt.

Jadwal penerbangan Jakarta-Amsterdam, baik Jumat ataupun Sabtu, tidak terpengaruh, karena menggunakan pesawat lain. "Mereka tidak menunggu pesawat yang terlambat berangkat ini," ujar Angki. Garuda Indonesia setiap hari melayani penerbangan Amterdam-Jakarta dan Jakarta-Amsterdam.

Meninggal

Seorang perempuan berusia kurang lebih 60 tahun mengalami sakit keras dan langsung kritis di atas udara Ceko. Awak kabin melakukan upaya penyelamatan sampai pesawat mendarat di kota Frankfurt, Jerman.

"Personil ambulans Bandara Frankfurt langsung masuk ke kabin dan melakukan pompa jantung CPR atas penumpang kritis tersebut," ujar Parlindungan Marpaung, salah seorang penumpang.

Penumpang kemudian dinyatakan meninggal dunia di rumah sakit kota Frankfurt, Jerman. Garuda Indonesia tidak akan membebani keluarga penumpang itu dengan biaya yang harus dikeluarkan maskapai penerbangan Indonesia.

"Semua proses pendaratan dan pengisian bahan bakar di Frankfurt itu besar ongkosnya. Garuda Indonesa akan menanggung semua biaya tersebut. Itu bagian dari pelayanan kami," ujar Kokoh Ritonga, Kepala Regional Garuda Indonesia Dubai-Amsterdam, kepada Radio Nederland.

Ganti rugi keterlambatan

Garuda Indonesia akan mengikuti peraturan mengenai klaim akibat keterlambatan penerbangan Amsterdam-Jakarta. Negara-negara Uni Eropa memberlakukan peraturan pemberian ganti rugi penundaan jadwal terbang.

"Kami mematuhi peraturan yang ada. Hanya bisa atau tidaknya refund sangat tergantung dari penyebab keterlambatan. Apakah itu kesalahan kami, atau sesuatu di luar kemampuan kami, overmacht. Kami akan dengar dulu laporan peristiwa tersebut," kata Kokoh.

Identitas penumpang yang meninggal dunia hingga sekarang tidak bisa diketahui umum. Ini terkait dengan hukum privasi di Eropa. Parlindungan Marpaung, penulis buku populer Setengah Isi Setengah Kosong, kebetulan menumpang pesawat Garuda GA 088, sempat melihat sang korban.

"Kondisi penumpang tak sadarkan diri, tampaknya ia keturunan campur, ada wajah Ambonnya," tukasnya saat ditanya Radio Nederland.

Garuda GA 088 berangkat dari Bandara Soekarno-Hatta, Jakarta, Indonesia Kamis malam WIB, transit di Dubai, dan seyogyanya melanjutkan penerbangan ke Amsterdam. Namun setelah dilaporkan ada penumpang yang kritis, Kapten pesawat langsung mengumumkan akan mendarat di Bandara Frankfurt.

Garuda Mendadak Mendarat di Frankfurt

Garuda Indonesia nomor penerbangan GA 088 dengan tujuan Amsterdam, Belanda, memutuskan untuk mendarat darurat di Bandara Frankfurt, Jerman, karena seorang penumpang dilaporkan dalam kondisi kritis.

Angki Maramis, Kepala Cabang Garuda Indonesia di bandar udara Schiphol mengatakan prosedur pendaratan harus dilakukan sebagai bagian dari pelayanan dan syarat keselamatan penerbangan.

"Sang penumpang dalam keadaan kritis, kami Garuda harus mendarat demi penumpang tersebut," ujarnya kepada Radio Nederland.

Menurut Parlindungan Marpaung, salah seorang penumpang pesawat itu, Garuda mendarat di Frankfurt pukul 07.50 waktu setempat. "Personil ambulans bandara Frankfurt langsung masuk ke kabin dan melakukan upaya penyelamatan pompa jantung CPR atas penumpang kritis tersebut," ujar Parlindungan melalui pesan singkat SMS.

Penumpang itu, seorang perempuan, berusia kurang lebih 60 tahun, dan diduga kuat berwarganegara Belanda keturunan Maluku.

"Kondisi penumpang tak sadarkan diri, tampaknya berdarah campur, soalnya ada darah Ambonnya, ia mulai kambuh di atas udara Ceko, atau setelah tujuh jam terbang dari airport Dubai," sambung penulis buku Setengah Isi Setengah Kosong ini.

Pesawat Airbus A330-200 itu berangkat dari Bandara Soekarno-Hatta, Jakarta, Indonesia Kamis malam kemarin, transit di Dubai, dan kemudian melanjutkan penerbangan ke Amsterdam. Setelah penumpang tidak sadarkan diri, awak kabin langsung melakukan upaya penyelamatan.

"Captain pesawat kemudian mengumumkan pesawat segera mendarat di Frankfurt. Penumpang yang kritis itu bersama keluarganya turun di Frankfurt," tulis Parlindungan dalam SMS-nya.

Saat laporan ini dibuat GA 088 belum lepas landas dari bandara Frankfurt, masih menyelesaikan prosuder pengisian bahan bakar dan administrasi.

Station Manager Garuda Indonesia di Belanda memperkirakan penerbangan kembali Garuda dari Amsterdam ke Jakarta mengalami keterlambatan sekitar 1,5 jam.

"Estimasi kami GA 089 Amsterdam-Jakarta baru bisa berangkat dari Schiphol pukul 11:30 (waktu setempat). Tapi ini perkiraan sementara. Semuanya sangat tergantung dari GA 088," ujar Angki Maramis kepada Radio Nederland.