Garuda's new Airbus A330-300s will arrive on time

By Soeryo Winoto

TOULOUSE, France (JP): The people standing around the runway clapped as the new Airbus A330-300 took off, breaking through the chilly air at Blagnac airport, about 600 kilometers south of Paris.

It was the third test flight of one of nine Airbus A330-300s ordered by Garuda Indonesia. The first delivery is scheduled for Dec. 18.

The aircraft made it first flight on Nov. 22, the second on the morning of Nov. 26 and the third that afternoon.

Sean Lee, Airbus Industrie regional communications manager, said he saw nothing which could delay the delivery as Airbus Industrie been done everything properly and on time.

"The first delivery, which will end in March next year, will include six aircraft one of which has undergone flight trial tests successfully. We believe that everything will be on schedule," Lee said last month. The other three would be delivered in 1998, he added.

All Garuda Indonesia officials involved in the purchase, who were sent to Toulouse, said they were satisfied with the tests.

"So far so good. I hope that everything will be smooth in the official delivery," Garuda resident representative Bambang Sugiharto said.

Bambang has been in Toulouse for about three months representing the Indonesian flag-carrier Garuda Indonesia.

Koesmono Rekky, Manager A/C Maintenance Audit Quality Assurance Department of Garuda, said the new aircraft was technically okay.

He expressed satisfaction at the cooperation between Garuda and Airbus Industrie.

"As a buyer Garuda has the right to complain about anything found irregular in the aircraft, and Airbus Industrie respects it very much. I appreciate that," he said.

Airbus Industrie is a multinational European consortium owned by Aerospatiale of France, Germany's Daimler-Benz Aerospace, British Aerospace and Spain's CASA.

The main sections of the A330 are manufactured in those countries and then transported to Toulouse for assembly.

The Airbus A330-300s to be delivered to Indonesia are the first six of nine Garuda ordered after signing a leasing deal in Singapore last March, seven years after the first order.

Last April Garuda invited several international financing firms to facilitate the leasing arrangement after changing all its purchasing contracts to leasing schemes for financial reasons.

Despite the leasing arrangement reports Lee said Garuda did not lease the aircraft. "Garuda purchased the aircraft," he said, adding that the twin-engined Airbus A330-300s each cost US$125 million.

Patrick Dumont, Senior Analyst Customer Marketing of Airbus Industrie, said Garuda could maximize its profits by operating A330-300s.

"A330 features the lowest operating costs of any aircraft yet designed. The fuel cost advantage in flying A330-300 is US$1.06 million per year, compared to MD-11 and Boeing 747-200," he said.

The A330-300 has a two class cabin layout with 42 executive class seats and 251 economy seats.

Passengers flying executive class will be able to relax in luxurious leather seats arranged in three rows of two, with a generous 48 inches of leg room between rows.

Garuda will use the A330-300s for regional flights to Hong Kong, Taipei, Japan, Guangzhou and Australia.

Lee said six airlines, excluding Indonesia, operated 50 Airbus A330-300s in Asia.

"For these new A330-300s Garuda prefers using Trent 700 Rolls- Royce engines. And it was Garuda that decided to use Rolls-Royce engines," Lee said explaining Garuda did not want General Electric engines in the new airbuses.

Bambang Sugiharto said every decision was based on financial and technological reasons. "We chose Airbus Industrie and Rolls- Royce for technological reasons", he said.

Garuda Indonesia president Soepandi had earlier said plans to operate A330-300s were part of Garuda's efforts to improve its service amid fierce competition.

"The Asia-Pacific is now growing very fast and Garuda will not miss the booming market and is determined to net passengers from all parts of the world," Soepandi once said.

Garuda currently has a total of 60 aircraft, which ply 35 international routes and 19 domestic routes.

Other Garuda efforts to improve service and attract more passengers have been made by Emizola Maas Sikumbang, the newly installed Garuda General Manager for France.

"We have changed the executive class into business class and business class into super-tourist class. Executive class is less popular for European tourists, especially French," Maas Sikumbang said. "Tourists are treated as business class passengers with executive class tickets."

Garuda now operates three Boeing 747-400s to and from Paris. Two depart from Jakarta and one from Denpasar, Bali.

The Boeing 747 has 18 executive class seats, 63 business class (super tourists) seats and 323 economy class seats.

Another effort to attract European tourists, particularly from France, is one more flight a week. "We had four flights in the past, and due to internal consideration we now have only three. In April next year we will (again) have more flights in line with the enhancement of the marketing of Garuda in France," Maas Sikumbang said.