... it is hoped that Garuda will rebound next year and fly higher...
Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA News) - Arif Wibowo, the president director of Citilink Indonesia, has been named president director of PT Garuda Indonesia, replacing Emirsyah Satar. So Wibowo now has bigger aeroplane as "pilot in command" to fly.

The decision was taken at an extraordinary general shareholders meeting held at the Garuda Indonesia Office here on Friday.

"Personally, I wish to express my gratitude for being trusted to become the president director of Garuda. I will continue what Pak (Mr) Emir (Emirsyah) has done," he stated.

On the occasion, Satar expressed optimism that Garuda Indonesia will again generate profit in 2015 after incurring losses of about Rp2.7 trillion this year.

"Under the leadership of Pak Arif, who is also the chairman of the Indonesia National Air Carriers Association (Inaca), it is hoped that Garuda will rebound next year and fly higher," he affirmed.

The national flag carrier's board of directors has shrunk from eight to six and comprises M Arif Wibowo, Handayani, Iganitius Askhara, Heriyanto AP, Captain Novianto, and Iwan Joeniarto.

In the meantime, members of its board of commissioners include Jusman Syafei Jamal as the chief commissioner, Isa, Muzaffar Ismail, Chairal Tanjung, Doni Oskaria, and Hasa M. Soedjono.

Satar resigned on Thursday, December 11, prior to his tenure ending in March 2015.

In his letter of resignation to State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, he said he officially resigned from the state-owned airline company after leading it for two terms.

Born on September 19, 1966, Arif had earlier held various positions at PT Garuda as the executive vice president for marketing and sales, senior general manager for Western Indonesia, and the senior general manager for Japan, Korea, China, and the United States. He also worked as the general manager for Fukuoka Japan and the general manager Agency and Interline.

In the initial six months after receiving the Air Operation Certificate, PT Citilink Indonesia, under his stewardship, conducted aggressive expansion by increasing the number of its fleet with new Airbus A320 aircraft and flight services to cities in Indonesia.


And also cooperated with partner banks, travel insurance agencies, and others to strengthen the airline company's position in the country's low-cost carrier segment of the aviation industry, among several others.

Wibowo graduated from the mechanical engineering department of the Sepuluh November Institute of Technology (OTS) in Surabaya, East Java, and he also holds a master degree in management of air transportation from the University of Indonesia that cooperates with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He has also been named a certified professional marketer (CPM Asia) by the Asia Marketing Federation (AMF).

(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/O001) 12-12-2014 13:44:01

Editor: Ade P Marboen
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