Lunar New Year And Isra Mi'raj Long Holidays, Garuda Group Operates 68 Additional Flights

President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Military Commander Tsani Panjaitan. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Garuda Indonesia Group, through full-service Garuda Indonesia flight services and low-cost carrier Citilink operates 68 additional flights in welcoming the momentum of the long holiday period for the Chinese New Year and Isra Mi'raj 2025 which falls from January 24 to February 2, 2025.

President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Military Commander Tsani Panjaitan explained, the 68 additional flights consisted of 43 flights for Garuda Indonesia, including the operation of four wide-body aircraft. Meanwhile, Citilink added 25 flight frequencies.

"The increase in flight frequency is carried out in anticipation of a surge in the number of passengers which is projected to occur throughout this period, especially on various popular routes of the community," he said in an official statement, Sunday, January 26.

The Military Commander said that with the addition of capacity for the period from January 24 to February 2, 2025, Garuda Indonesia Group provided at least 1.2 million flight seats consisting of at least 889,000 Garuda Indonesia flight seats and 373,000 Citilink flight seats.

Garuda Indonesia projects an average flight filling rate of 54,000 passengers per day, an increase of about 25 percent compared to the previous period, which recorded an filling rate of 41,000 passengers per day.

Meanwhile, Citilink also projects the passenger content rate of 30,000 per day, an increase of 6.3 percent compared to passenger transportation outside the long holiday period or long weekend, which was recorded at 29,000 passengers.

The momentum peak of departure during this long holiday period has taken place on January 25, 2025. Meanwhile, the peak of our return is projected to occur on February 2, 2025.

"We estimate that passenger movement traffic will still move dynamically, considering the travel trend is still ongoing until the end of next week," said the Military Commander.

Furthermore, the Military Commander revealed several Garuda Indonesia flight routes that recorded the highest filling rates, including Denpasar, Surabaya, Medan, and Yogyakarta for domestic routes, as well as Singapore and Jeddah for international routes.

"Meanwhile, several Citilink flight routes that recorded the highest passenger filling rates included Pontianak, Bangka Belitung, Denpasar, and Lombok," said the Deputy Military Commander.

Garuda Indonesia group also ensures that various mitigation measures are also intensified in supporting the smooth operation of flights during the long weekend period of Chinese New Year and Isra Mi'raj 2025.

This mitigation step is pursued through the implementation of a comprehensive inspection of the fleet in ensuring that the aircraft is in a feasible and ready-to-fly condition, ensuring the readiness of flight crews to serve passengers, and ensuring the readiness and smooth running of ground services and passenger baggage are optimally maintained.

In addition, as an effort to optimize passenger comfort, during the January-February period, Garuda Indonesia Group has also optimized the preparation of the updated flight plan data carried out by the Flight Operation Officer regarding weather situations, including anticipating the possibility of clear air turbulence, thunderstorms and low-altitude windshear routes on each flight route.

"As well as preparing an alternative airport that can be used as a landing site in the event of an emergency," he said.