Garuda improves punctuality

Garuda improves punctuality

SURABAYA (JP): Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has improved
punctuality on its Jakarta-Surabaya (East Java) route to over 90
percent following the introduction of the "Garuda Express" in
early September.

The general manager of Garuda's Surabaya office, Iman Sutoro,
said here on Saturday that the punctuality of departures and
arrivals on the route had increased to 94 percent as of October
from 60 percent last year.

"Our revamped service for flights connecting Jakarta and
Surabaya is solely aimed at improving punctuality on the route,"
he told journalists.

Garuda launched a new service called "Garuda Express" for its
Jakarta-Surabaya flights in early September.

The route is currently served by two Boeing-737-300 series
planes with a capacity of 104 seats -- 22 in business class and
82 in economy class.

The airline sells around 70 percent of tickets on the route
through advanced bookings at travel agencies, while the remaining
30 percent are sold directly over the counter at Jakarta's
Soekarno-Hatta airport and Surabaya's Juanda airport.

Garuda provides eight daily flights connecting the two cities.

Iman said the Jakarta-Surabaya route was chosen for the Garuda
Express service because it was still profitable despite a
countrywide slump in ticket sales.

He said that Garuda plans to provide a similar service on
other profitable routes, including Jakarta-Yogyakarta and
Jakarta-Medan (North Sumatra), in the coming months.

Garuda Indonesia has said it expects to suffer an Rp 400
billion (US$48.5 million) loss this year. The monetary crisis has
left the airline facing dire financial difficulties because
around 80 percent of its operating costs are priced in U.S.
dollars while most of its revenues are earned in rupiah. (aly)