The ceremony was attended by the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Dahlan Iskan, the Minister of Transportation E.E. Mangindaan, a number of Ambassadors from other friendly countries, and potential "First Class" passengers.
The President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Garuda Indonesia, Emirsyah Satar, said the delivery of the new Boeing 777-300ER and the "First Class" service launch were in line with the airline's effort to broaden its international flight network, particularly on long-haul flight routes, as part of its strategy to become a "Global Player".
"The addition of the Boeing 777-300ER in Garuda Indonesia's fleet marks two important milestones in the company's development. First, the delivery of the Boeing 777-300ER sets a new standard of quality and value in air travel, especially for direct, long-haul flights, as we continue to expand our destination network globally. Secondly, the inauguration of our "First Class" service that will take our services to an entirely new level of exellence," said Emirsyah.
Moreover, the arrival of the Boeing 777-300ER is part of the airline's fleet expansion program to increase its capacity and broaden its international network, in line with the corporate transformation and expansion program, that is known as the "Quantum Leap 2011-2015" program.
The Boeing 777-300ER has been named "Best Aircraft" in its class for five consecutive years in the "Leading Edge Awards". The aircraft has a capacity of 314 passengers, with a seating configuration of 8 seats in First Class, 38 seats in Business Class, and 268 seats in Economy Class.
The first of Garuda Indonesia's Boeing 777-300ER will commence operations on 9 July 2013 to serve the Jakarta - Jeddah route. The second aircraft for this route will arrive later this month and begin operating in August 2013. This year, the airline will receive four out of the total order of 10 Boeing 777-300ER.
Meanwhile, the next two Boeing 777-300ER will arrive later this year and begin serving the Sydney - Jakarta - London route from November 2013. Three more aircraft are scheduled to arrive in 2014 and a further three aircraft will arrive in 2015.
As part of efforts to enhance service to Garuda's customers, the new Boeing 777-300ER fleet will showcase "First Class". When flying "First Class", passengers will be able to enjoy the "Chef on Board" service enabling them to choose from a selection of delicious meals from a First-Class menu, prepared at an altitude of more than 35.000 feet, by a dedicated chef.
In addition, the Boeing 777-300ER is also equipped with "In-flight Connectivity", including exConnect (WiFi internet connection) and exTV (live broadcast from six international channels, namely CNN International, BBC World, BBC Arabic, NHK World Premium, Euronews, and CNBC).
These first-class amenities enable passengers to remain connected to the internet and continue their business activities during the flight or access their favorite entertainment, such as live soccer games via the sports channel, and many other entertainment options.
Garuda Indonesia Introducing the "New Service Concept"
Aligned with the arrival of the Boeing 777-300ER, Garuda Indonesia also introduced a new full service concept. In addition to the "First Class" service, Garuda Indonesia also offers improved "Executive Class" and "Economy Class" services.
The service design on the three classes is based on the characteristics of each class. "First Class" is intimate, authentic, and engaging. "Executive Class" service is more energetic, authentic, and dynamic, while "Economy Class" service is dynamic, positive, and warm.
As domestic and international markets continue to grow, in 2013 Garuda will also open several domestic routes, such as Balikpapan - Banjarmasin, Balikpapan - Manado, Balikpapan - Berau, Jakarta - Tanjung Pinang, and international routes such as Surabaya - Singapore, Denpasar - Bangkok, Denpasar - Brisbane and Denpasar - Kuala Lumpur.
In order to support this network expansion, in 2013 Garuda Indonesia will receive 24 new aircraft, consisting of four Boeing 777-300ER, three Airbus A330, ten Boeing 737-800NG, and seven Bombardier CRJ1000 NextGen. In line with the company's "Quantum Leap" program, by 2015 Garuda Indonesia and Citilink will operate 194 aircraft with an average age of less than five years.
Garuda Indonesia currently operates 112 aircraft with an average age of 5.8 years, consisting of the A330-200/300 to serve international flights to Australia, Europe, China, Korea, and Japan, the B737-800NG to serve its domestic and regional flights, and the Bombardier CRJ1000 NextGen which serves short-haul flights from its hubs in Makassar and Medan.
Garuda Indonesia's service improvement and business transformation, through its long-term plan, has gained the appreciation from numerous international institutions, who have awarded Garuda with a number of prestigious awards. During one of the biggest air shows in the world, Paris Air Show 2013, Garuda Indonesia was named "The World's Best Economy Class" by Skytrax London.
At the same event, Garuda Indonesia was also named as "The World's Best Economy Class Seats" and ranked eighth place in "The World's Top 10 Airlines" by Skytrax.
About PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk.
Garuda Indonesia is the flag carrier of Indonesia and serves as a full service airline. Garuda Indonesia currently operates 82 aircrafts and serves 33 domestic and 18 international destinations in Asia (Regional Southeast Asia, Middle East, China, Japan and South Korea), Australia, and Europe (The Netherlands). As a result of its concern to safety, Garuda Indonesia received IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) as proves that the airline has fulfilled global best practice in safety and security procedures.
Apart from the main business as full service airline, Garuda Indonesia Group also consists of Strategic Business Unit (SBU) and Subsidiaries. The SBUs are Garuda Cargo and Garuda Medical Center. The subsidiaries are PT Citilink Indonesia as Low Cost Carrier (LCC); PT Aerowisata (hotel, ground transportation, travel agent and catering); PT Abacus Distribution Systems Indonesia (global distribution system); PT Aero System Indonesia/Asyst (provider of IT services for the travel and transportation industry), and PT Garuda Maintenance Facility or known as GMF AeroAsia (aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul).
In February 2011, Garuda Indonesia has taken historic step to become a public company and listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.garuda-indonesia.com.
Contact:
Pujobroto
VP Corporate Communications
PT. GARUDA INDONESIA (PERSERO), Tbk
pujobroto@garuda-indonesia.com
Editor: PR Wire
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
