Replacing Garuda Indonesia, Citilink Returns to Serve Flights from Halim Airport
JAKARTA - The Garuda Indonesia Group is optimizing the flight network from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport through the strengthening of the role of Citilink, in line with the adjustment of the operation of services previously served by Garuda Indonesia.
The optimization is part of the Garuda Indonesia Group's flight network development strategy to provide air transportation access closer to the city's activity centers.
Halim Perdanakusuma Airport is considered strategic because of its location which is close to the center of government, business areas, and offices.
Flight operations at Halim Airport, which was previously served by Garuda Indonesia, are now optimized through Citilink services on a number of strategic routes.
This adjustment is directed at tapping the short-haul aviation market with services that prioritize time efficiency, easy access to airports, adequate flight frequencies, and more competitive fares.
Garuda Indonesia President Director Glenny Kairupan said that the synergy between Garuda Indonesia and Citilink is the group's commitment to providing a wider selection of flight services while optimizing the low-cost carrier segment which has a large market base in Indonesia.
"With the optimization of services at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport by Citilink, we hope to present a variety of flight schedule options for business travelers who are increasingly competitive," he said in an official statement, Friday, January 23.
Meanwhile, said Glenny, Garuda Indonesia will focus on flight services at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport as a major hub for domestic and international flights.
"Garuda Indonesia will focus on increasing accessibility to other destinations in Indonesia through the flight hub at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport which is the main gateway for foreign tourists in Indonesia," he said.
According to Glenny, the optimization of the flight network is expected to provide sustainable benefits to national economic growth through increasingly integrated and seamless flight connectivity.
Meanwhile, Citilink President Director Darsito Hendroseputro said the adjustment of route operations at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport was part of the synergy strategy and optimization of services in the Garuda Indonesia Group.
Darsito said that his party would optimize the operation of flights at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport by prioritizing safety, punctuality, and passenger comfort.
"This step is expected to maintain inter-regional connectivity from and to Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, as well as provide alternative flight services according to the mobility needs of the community," said Darsito.
Currently, he continued, Citilink serves at least seven flights to and from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport with routes to Yogyakarta, Denpasar, Malang, and Surabaya.
With this Garuda Indonesia Group synergy, gradually Citilink will continue to study the development of flights to and from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, both through the addition of frequencies on routes that are the public's preference, and the opening of new routes.