Garuda to Operate New Flight Routes from Batam

Batam, Riau Islands (Antara) - National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia Airlines plans to open new flight routes from Batam to Yogyakarta, and to Banjarmasin, Hang Nadim Airport spokesman Suwarso said. \"The Garuda management has requested for a permit for the Batam-Yogyakarta and Batam-Banjarmasin direct flight routes, and we are just waiting for further confirmation from the airline,\" Suwarso said on Saturday. He noted that Garuda will service the two routes with Boeing 737-800 NG planes once a day. According to him, the Batam-Yogyakarta route can be covered in around two hours and has been served by Lion Air, but no airline has served the Batam-Banjarmasin route so Garuda will soon provide flight services on these two routes. \"Having a direct flight from Batam to Yogyakarta and Batam to Banjarmasin is part of Garuda\'s efforts to improve its services in Batam, after the national carrier launched the Batam-Surabaya and Batam-Bandung routes on December 19, 2014 with the same type of aircraft,\" Suwarso pointed out. (*)