Almost 26 Hours Of Flight And Had A Transit In Medina, Garuda Indonesia Evacuated 80 Indonesian Citizens From Ukraine

Photo: Doc. Garuda Indonesia

JAKARTA - The National Airline Garuda Indonesia operates evacuation flights for at least 80 Indonesian citizens (WNI) from Ukraine and 3 foreign nationals (WNA) who are families of Indonesian citizens in the group.

This flight is a follow-up to the efforts to evacuate Indonesian citizens from the Ukrainian conflict situation initiated by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs using a Garuda Indonesia charter flight operated with the A330-200 fleet and flown from Bucharest, Romania whose territory is directly adjacent to Ukraine to Jakarta, Indonesia.

The flight departed from Henri Coanda Bucharest Airport, Romania on Wednesday, March 2 at 15:10 and arrived at Soekarno Hatta international airport on Thursday, March 3 at 17.00 western Indonesia time, having previously made a transit in Medina.

President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Irfan Setiaputra, said that the evacuation flight for Indonesian citizens from Ukraine had a special meaning for Garuda to be able to take part in this humanitarian mission.

"Garuda Indonesia's role in the evacuation process is part of our ongoing commitment to carry out our mandate as a national flag carrier, one of which is realized through the provision of flight service accessibility that is ready at any time for the Indonesian people who will return to their homeland in the midst of the current conflict situation in Ukraine," said Irfan in his written statement, Friday, March 4.

"It is a necessity for Garuda Indonesia as the flag carrier of the nation to take part in the active role of the state in providing protection for its citizens, one of which is through the mission to repatriate Indonesian citizens from Ukraine," Irfan added.

Irfan explained that the evacuation flight for Indonesian citizens had gone through intensive coordination with relevant stakeholders by paying attention to safety and security procedures for inter-country flights, including the implementation of health protocols through COVID-19 checks for all passengers who were on the flight.

The whole process of this evacuation flight went well and smoothly. All Indonesian citizens who took part in this flight have landed safely in the country along with the entire escort team from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the security team from the TNI Headquarters, as well as health workers who continue to assist intensively during the flight process.

"We also thank the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant stakeholders who have entrusted Garuda Indonesia as the flag carrier of the nation in maximizing its role in this humanitarian mission to repatriate Indonesian citizens," concluded Irfan.