The carrier expects to operate a fleet of 80 total aircraft by the end of the year. — The Jakarta Post
JAKARTA: Garuda Indonesia has announced a plan to expand its fleet by eight aircraft, including the Boeing 737-800 NG, Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A330-300, for delivery throughout 2024 to operate a fleet of 80 total aircraft by the end of the year.
Garuda Indonesia president director Irfan Setiaputra said on Tuesday that adding the extra aircraft aimed to maximise the airline’s occupancy rate and improve its network of both domestic and international routes, Antara reported.
Irfan revealed the flag carrier operated 145,500 flights in 2023, an increase of 38% from the previous year’s figure.
The state-owned airline reported revenue of US$2.94bil last year, up 40% from the 2022, according to news site Liputan6.com.
The company attributed last year’s revenue growth to a 41% year-on-year sales increase in scheduled flights to US$2.37bil, due to increased demand for air travel after the coronavirus pandemic, while sales grew 52% for passenger-only scheduled flights.
Earlier on March 7, Irfan said sports events and concerts had helped boost Garuda’s ticket sales.
He noted that American pop star Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Singapore had propelled a 30% rise in passenger volume for flights to the city-state.
“During sports events and concerts, passenger numbers certainly increase. Singapore is great, hotel prices have also increased, right?” he said at the time.
As the Aidil Fitri holiday travel season draws closer, Garuda Indonesia and its subsidiary Citilink have reportedly prepared an extra 570 flights across the country.
The Aidil Fitri public holidays fall on April 10 and 11, but millions of Indonesians take to the skies for mudik (exodus) on either side of those dates to travel back to their hometowns for family reunions, and then return to their point of origin.
“Currently we have 170 additional flights for Garuda and 400 additional flights for Citilink. Hopefully, there will be no obstacles,” Irfan said on Monday, adding that the extra flights would serve routes to popular destinations including Denpasar, Padang, Surabaya and Medan as well as Singapore.
Like many airlines, Garuda Indonesia took a severe hit from the global travel restrictions imposed during Covid-19, which prompted airlines to slash flights and downsize fleets.
Long beset by financial and operational woes even before the coronavirus pandemic, the airline took a severe hit as a result of travel restrictions imposed across the globe, which prompted a sharp reduction in flights and a downsizing of airline fleets.
Garuda Indonesia stabilised its finances in June 2022 when it obtained creditors’ approval to restructure 142 trillion rupiah in debts. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
