Garuda Indonesia's Success In Bringing Home 80 Indonesian Citizens From Ukraine Receives Praise From Erick Thohir

Indonesian citizens evacuated from Ukraine, Photo: Doc. Garuda Indonesia

JAKARTA - SOE Minister Erick Thohir appreciated the Garuda Indonesia airline after successfully carrying out the process of evacuating Indonesian citizens (WNI) from Ukraine through Henri Coanda Airport in Bucharest, Romania.

"I appreciate Garuda Indonesia for being an important part of the process of evacuating our Indonesian citizens from Ukraine," said Erick Thohir as quoted from his official Instagram account @erickthohir in Jakarta, Friday, March 4.

The Minister of SOEs also hopes that Garuda Indonesia as a national airline will continue to maximize its role in carrying out humanitarian missions.

"As a national airline, Garuda will always maximize its role in humanitarian missions. May we all always be in the protection of Allah SWT," said Erick Thohir as quoted from Antara.

Previously, the National Airline Garuda Indonesia operated evacuation flights for 80 Indonesian citizens (WNI) from Ukraine and 3 foreign nationals (WNA) who were 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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs using a Garuda Indonesia charter flight operated with the A330-200 fleet and flown from Bucharest. This region is directly adjacent to Ukraine.

The flight departs from Henri Coanda Bucharest Airport, Romania on Wednesday March 2 at 15:10 and arrives at Soekarno Hatta Airport on Thursday March 3 at 17.00 WIB, 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.