Garuda to get B737-500 jet later this month<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): National air carrier Garuda Indonesia will
\nreceive later this month one of the 17 Boeing B-737 aircraft it
\nordered from Boeing of the United States during the 1996
\nIndonesia Air Show (IAS), a company spokesman said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Arif Haryanto said that eight more B737s would be delivered
\nlater this year.<\/p>\n
\"So far, as just informed by Garuda's director of operations
\nDharmadi on Thursday, the delivery will be on schedule,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Garuda signed in June last year a US$1.6 billion procurement
\ncontract for 23 Boeing jets comprising 12 B737-300s, five B737-
\n500s and six B777-200s.<\/p>\n
Based on the original schedule, five B737-500 planes will be
\ndelivered this year including one in August, two in September and
\nanother two in October. Five B737-300 jets are also scheduled to
\nbe delivered this year including one aircraft in October, two in
\nNovember and another one in December.<\/p>\n
The other B737-300s will be delivered between 1998 and 1999,
\nwhile the B777s between 2000 and 2002.<\/p>\n
If there is no change, Garuda will also receive next month its
\nthird MD-11ER, the final jet it ordered from the former McDonnell
\nDouglas. The state-owned air carrier has ordered three MD-11ERs
\nand selected General Electric engines to power the jets which
\nwill replace aging MD-11 aircraft currently operated by Garuda.<\/p>\n
Garuda will also receive during July 1998 and January 1999 the
\ndelivery of three more Airbus A330-300 aircraft out of six
\naircraft it ordered from the European consortium Airbus
\nIndustrie.<\/p>\n
Arga<\/p>\n
Garuda, which plans to float part of its shares on the local
\nstock exchange next year, has upgraded its information system to
\nimprove its services.<\/p>\n
Garuda corporation information system vice president, Samudra
\nSukardi, said yesterday the company's Automatic Reservation
\nGaruda (Arga) has entered a new generation.<\/p>\n
\"We are applying a system developed by Atraxis of Swiss Air.
\nThis is part of the agreement signed by Garuda and Swiss Air
\nwhich was renewed last month,\" Sukardi said.<\/p>\n
Garuda's information technology network, which uses very small
\naperture terminals, was able to handle passengers, ticketing and
\ncargo reservations, hotel reservations, telex systems and
\ndeparture control systems, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We will be able to provide better services and avoid false
\ninformation on seat occupancy which frequently happens. The
\nsystem is fairer for passengers,\" Sukardi added.<\/p>\n
One of the advantages of the upgraded system, he added, was
\nthat Arga could serve multi-hosting, meaning that other domestic
\nair carriers were able to participate in the network.<\/p>\n
\"When successfully operated, I think Arga could be a separate
\nbusiness just like other reservation service providers in foreign
\ncountries,\" Sukardi said.<\/p>\n
He said the upgraded Arga aimed to support Garuda's plan to
\nbecome a world class air carrier in the next few years. (icn)<\/p>",
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