Garuda Indonesia Reveals The Purchase Of Boeing Aircraft Is Part Of A Long-Term Strategy

JAKARTA - PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk or Garuda has opened its voice regarding the news of the purchase of 50 Boeing 777 aircraft from the United States (US).

This purchase is part of the company's long-term strategy to increase the number of fleets to around 120 units.

Launching from the official Garuda Indonesia website, currently the fleet owned by the national airline is 77 units. Consisting of wide-body aircraft such as Boeing 777-300ER as many as 8 units, Airbus A330-200 as many as 3 units, Airbus A330-300 as many as 16 units and Airbus A330-900 neo as many as 5 units.

Garuda Indonesia VP Corporate Secretary Cahyadi Indrananto said his company had indeed communicated with Boeing in recent times.

"Communication with Boeing has actually been doing Garuda for the past few years, because it is in line with our strategy to add aircraft in the long term," he said when contacted by VOI, Sunday, July 20.

Cahyadi said the addition of this fleet also aims to optimize flight networks of up to 100 routes in the next five years.

Furthermore, Cahyadi said that after the agreement on the reciprocal tariff negotiations between President Prabowo Subianto and US President Donal Trump, Garuda and Boeing, they continued to communicate intensively to discuss the details of the fleet's needs in accordance with Garuda Indonesia's market share.

"This includes numbers and types of aircraft, timelines for delivery, purchasing schemes, procurement techniques, and other things," he explained.

Purchase Of Boeing Plane Becomes Trump's Tariff Negotiation Requirement

Some time ago, US President Donald Trump announced that his government had reached a trade agreement with Indonesia regarding the reciprocal tariff. He said the import tariff imposed for Indonesia fell to 19 percent from the previous 32 percent.

As part of the agreement, Indonesia must import goods from the US, including dozens of aircraft fleets. Donald Trump revealed that at least 50 Boeing manufacturers will be purchased by Garuda Indonesia.

The news of the purchase of the aircraft is in line with the plan to add a new fleet, in this case Boeing. The number is estimated to reach 79 units.

Danantara has also agreed to inject capital into the state-owned airline worth IDR 6.6 trillion.

Sebelumnya, Menteri Badan Usaha Milik Negara (BUMN) Erick Thohir membenarkan Garuda Indonesia dilibatkan sebagai pendukung tim negosiasi Indonesia untuk meraih kesepakatan terkait tarif impor resiprokal Presiden AS Donald Trump.

“Iya dong (ikut ke sana). Karena dia supporting system untuk menjaga transaksi,” kata Erick di Gedung DPR RI, Jakarta, Selasa, 8 Juli.

Erick menjelaskan, Garuda Indonesia dilibatkan untuk melanjutkan kesepakatan pengadaan pesawat dengan Boeing.

Dia bilang, Garuda telah memiliki kontrak baru dengan produsen pesawat asal AS tersebut.

“Termasuk pengadaan pesawat terbang yang memang kita masih kurang,” jelasnya.

Previously, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir confirmed that Garuda Indonesia was involved as a supporter of the Indonesian negotiating team to reach an agreement regarding the reciprocal import rate of US President Donald Trump.

"Yes, please (go there). Because he supports the system to maintain transactions," said Erick at the DPR RI Building, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 8.

Erick explained that Garuda Indonesia was involved in continuing the aircraft procurement agreement with Boeing.

He said Garuda had a new contract with the US aircraft manufacturer.

"Including the procurement of airplanes, which we are still lacking," he explained.