Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA News) - National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia plans to buy 11 new planes this year with the first delivery expected in February or March.

The planes consisted of nine Boeing 737-800s and two Airbus 330-200s, Garuda Indonesia Technical Director Hadinoto Soedigno said here on Thursday.

The nine Boeing 737-800s would be delivered in stages starting February or March, and the two Airbus 330-200s would be delivered in April and October, he said on the sidelines of a roadshow for the airline`s initial public offering.

Garuda put orders for the 11 planes two years ago, he said.

He said Garuda which currently has a fleet of 87 planes expects to operate 130-150 planes in the next five years.

With the targeted fleet of 130-150 planes in 2015, Garuda would buy a minimum of 10 planes in each of the next five years, he said.

Garuda is expected to list its shares with the Indonesia Stock Exchange on February 11. The company`s chief financial officer Elisa Lumbantoruan said on Wednesday about 80 percent of the proceeds of the IPO would be spent on expanding the airline`s fleet and 20 percent to finance its capital expenditure.

Hadinoto said Garuda would operate its Boeing planes to serve its domestic flights such as Jakarta-Gorontalo via Surabaya and Makassar, Surabaya-Balikpapan, and Surabaya-Ampenan.

Meanwhile, the Airbus planes would be used to serve its regional routes which would be opened soon, including Jakarta-Manila and Jakarta-Taiwan, he said. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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