Garuda to need one year to prepare for European market

Denpasar - PT Garuda Indonesia will need nine to 12 months to prepare for the European market following the lifting of the European Union`s ban on Indonesian airline fligths into the region.

"Our fleet is now being prepared and new aircraft will be added to it every year," the airline company`s senior general manager for the Eastern region, Suranto, said after opening Garuda Indonesia Frequent Flyers (GFF) Golf Tournament 2009 in Tabanan, Bali, on Friday.

He said Europe was an extraordinary market to tap. Garuda meanwhile plans to start flying to Amsterdam in the middle of 2010.

"We have longed for the lifting of the ban. We now have to prepare the time frame for entering there," he said.

The general manager of the Garuda Indonesia office here, Bagus Y Siregar, said Garuda as a national air carrier would continue to expand its market.

"This year we are still growing. A number of domestic routes have been reopened as well as international ones such as Hong Kong," he said.

Garuda, he said, has loyal and strong markets. To maintain the loyalty of its customers, he said, Garuda, would give its best service to them.

"The GFF Golf Tournament is one of the forms of appreciation we give to our customers. We always want to be the best for our customers," he said.

He said until now the number of GFF members had already reached 10,608. The best player in the tournament would be sent to international tournaments. The tournament offers Rp400 million in cash prize for players who make a hole-in-one.

"Many Garuda passengers holding GFF cards fly twice to three times a week," he said.

Source : Antara News