NO MORE TRANSIT IN SINGAPORE, NEXT MONTH GARUDA FLY DIRECTLY FROM JAKARTA TO LONDON

President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Pahala Nugraha Mansury

PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk (GIAA) will conduct a review of the flight route from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Jakarta) to Heathrow Airport (London) via Singapore. The reason, based on audits from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the performance of flight route Jakarta-London via Singapore apparently has not provided an encouraging advantage to the company.

President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Pahala Mansury explained if starting early November 2017 the Garuda side will modify the Jakarta-London flight route. As of November 2nd, 2017 Garuda Indonesia will make direct flights to London without transit in Singapore.

"So, if at this time, London as of early November we will restructure from the route. Not flying through Singapore, as of November 2nd we will fly directly to it. We will also connect this route to London with to Melbourne, "said Pahala at BEI Building, Jakarta, Tuesday (10/10), as reported by Detik.

Pahala further said that this effort is done to reduce flight operating costs. Garuda also plans to restructure 28 other routes that are considered not profitable for the company. "Instead we cut the route, but the plane is still to be paid. Garuda's focus is indeed optimizing, if the route that can not be fixed yes we cut. If you just chase passengers from Jakarta to London it's not enough. If you can connect Melbourne-Jakarta-London will increase our passengers as well, "he explained.

The move is made by Garuda Indonesia to reduce the company's operating expenses, so that the passengers of Jakarta to London are expected to increase. "But this is one of the routes we see improvements by flying directly to it, so it can reduce costs. Can add passengers by connecting to Melbourne, "said Pahala.

PT Citilink Indonesia as a subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia will also cut off some less prospective flight routes such as Balikpapan-Yogyakarta and Jakarta-Palembang. "Like for example in Balikpapan-Yogya, then Jakarta (Cengkareng) -Palembang, that we reduce," concluded Pahala.

Garuda Indonesia is known to have served Jakarta-London flights through transit in Singapore since March 31, 2016 ago. While from London Heathrow to Jakarta will be served non-stop with the frequency of flights 5 times a week every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday by using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.