Presidential Plane Is 'Parked', Jokowi Chooses To Charter Garuda Indonesia Boeing 777-300ER To Visit 3 Countries, Why?

President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. (Photo: Doc. Garuda Indonesia)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) made his first overseas visit during the COVID-19 pandemic, but not using a presidential plane. Jokowi chose to charter a Garuda plane. The choice of Garuda aircraft during the visit to Italy, Great Britain, and the United Arab Emirates were based on considerations of safety and efficiency.

SOE Minister Erick Thohir assessed that the choice of Garuda proved the quality of the national airline's good health protocols. Erick also appreciated the entire Garuda crew who had maximally carried out the health protocols in a disciplined and educative manner for every passenger in Indonesia.

Erick Thohir himself participated in accompanying Jokowi on his trip to the three countries.

"It is an honor, of course, for Garuda, which is the first mode of air transportation used by the President on his first overseas trip during the pandemic. This proves the very good quality of health protocols. Appreciation for all Garuda crew," he said in a written statement, Friday, October 29.

Erick said that Jokowi's visit to the three countries required aircraft that had long-range capabilities. Therefore, the Garuda Boeing 777-300ER type was chosen instead of the presidential plane.

Meanwhile, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono explained that the selection of this national airline aircraft had been carefully considered. Among them are considerations of time efficiency, budget savings, and health protocols.

"By using this wide-bodied aircraft, this 13-hour trip to Rome can be done directly without the need for transit. If we use the BBJ Presidential Aircraft, we have to transit. And remember, this is the President's first working visit abroad during a pandemic, We must be very careful in carrying out health protocols, including face-to-face meetings during transit," said Heru.

If the president and his entourage have to transit, said Heru, preparations for the implementation of health protocols must be carried out properly, such as sterilization of waiting rooms, PCR tests for waiters at transit points, as well as food and drinks served must be carried out with strict health protocols.

Not only that, another thing to consider is budget efficiency. Heru said that all ministers who were present during the visit were part of the President's entourage on this plane.

Besides Erick, there were five other ministers who participated in the presidential visit, namely Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung. But the Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs left first for Rome, to attend a ministerial meeting.