Garuda's old 747's

Recently Garuda put ads in your paper and others, expensive half-page, made by Matari advertising.

This ad is surprisingly silly and detrimental to Garuda's image, since the focus is a photograph of an antique Boeing 747 of 17 or more years old, series 200.

It is a blunder of great magnitude and reflects the "sloppy & indifferent" attitude of the directors and its president, because the airline is trying to impress and convince the public of its on-time efforts and achievements, the safety via a young fleet with modern aircraft.

The irony is that indeed Garuda has a few 747-400 types in use, with the winglets at the tips of the wings. It hurts me as an Indonesian who experienced the whole saga and drama of Garuda starting a new chapter under Wiweko with Lockheed Coronado's 440, then DC-8, then McDonald's DC 10 extended with the proud names of Java, Sumatra, Irian Jaya in red-white livery, and then belatedly the 747 series 200 etc., changing stupidly with the present colors and livery, doing away with the proud names of the islands, cities, and rivers in our country.

In the end, I can only say what a sad fate that stupid management has imposed for 30 years on our poor people working with the airline, and the domestic passengers.

The test of the international lines has shown the true face of Garuda: People travel (with them) only when there is no other choice, or if they want the bottom price...

Y. SANTO

Jakarta