Garuda to Increase Frequency of Flights

Semarang, C Java (Antara) - Garuda Indonesia plans to increase the frequency of its flights on several routes to cater to the rising number of passengers, its vice president for region 3, Ari Suryanta said. Garuda will also increase the number of flights from Semarang to Surabaya and vice versa, he said here Friday. Most of Garuda's passengers on the Semarang-Surabaya flight route are businessmen who make a one-day trip so that they don't have to stay overnight at a hotel, he said. "Most of passengers on the route prefer to return the same day after completing their business. So, we plan to increase the number of flights to twice daily, in the morning and in the evening," he said. In total, the national flag carrier will buy 27 more planes this year to increase its fleet, he said. "We will start increasing the frequency of flights in October," Suryanta said. Garuda Indonesia will also open new routes linking Semarang to Bandung and Semarang to Balikpapan, he said. Garuda is expected to service the two new routes at the end of this year, Garuda Indonesia marketing manager based in Semarang, Herri Darmawan said. (*) Reporting by Aris Wasita Widiastuti