Good News for Travelers! Garuda Indonesia Soon to Open Narita and Melbourne International Flight Routes

The board of directors of Garuda Indonesia. (Photo: VOI/Mery Handayani)

JAKARTA - PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk will soon re-operate international flight routes to Narita, Japan, and Melbourne, Australia. This step was taken in line with the completion of the company's financial restructuring process.

Garuda Indonesia President Director Irfan Setiaputra said the opening of the international route was the company's effort to attract tourists to Indonesia in line with the Japanese government's plan to open the border or remove arrival restrictions.

"God willing, on November 1, we will make flights, reopen Narita-Bali flights as part of our efforts to welcome the openness of the Japanese border to be able to invite tourists back to Bali, Japan", he said in a virtual press conference, Thursday, October 20.

After the opening of the Bali-Narita flight route, said Irfan, Garuda will also revive the Jakarta-Melbourne route. Then, continued with the opening of the Bali-Melbourne route.

"Secondly, on November 23, there will be a reopening, so this is not a new route, this is the old Jakarta-Melbourne route which will be continued in December Bali-Melbourne", he said.

Irfan said that in the future Garuda Indonesia will be more selective in serving international flights. He said the company would focus more on increasing the frequency of domestic flights. The company will also synergize with its subsidiary, Citilink, in maximizing the potential of the domestic market.

Meanwhile, Garuda Indonesia's Director of Services and Commerce Ade R Susardi said as part of the business transformation, Garuda Indonesia will focus on optimizing revenue from cargo transportation and Umrah flights.

"Our focus on cargo will remain as it is now or even increases it because we know this business is one of the pillars of our business at Garuda", he said.

Later, said Ade, transportation for cargo will be discussed with passengers. Given that along with the increase from the passenger side.

"Indeed, in this case, we will vary because the increase is also on the passenger side, we must see the cargo capacity adjusted to the number of passengers", he said.