Garuda to US via Japan in 2017

Garuda to US via Japan in 2017
By Kate Webster


Garuda Indonesia will return to the USA in 2017, with the proposed flights to transit via Tokyo, Narita, Japan.

The Indonesian flag carrier unveiled the plan following the announcement from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last month that Indonesia complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards and has been granted a Category 1 rating.

With the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Category 1 rating, Garuda Indonesia is now able to establish service to the US.

Vice President of Corporate Communications Garuda Indonesia, Benny S. Butarbutar, stated that the re-operation of the US flight service is a strategic response upon the FAA announcement, and indeed was one of the airline strategic plans.

“Our plan to re-operate the US flight service is expected to strengthen Garuda’s position as one of global aviation player. With the upgraded rating from FAA which recognizes the Indonesia aviation safety and security standard, we are trying to make plan realization even sooner” Butarbutar said.

The airline has already started to work on preparation, including feasibility study upon the market potency, profitable route, high-utilized aircraft, as well as transit permit from Japan aviation authority.

Garuda will allocate their wide body Boeing 777-300ER to serve the US flight, which will transit at Tokyo Narita prior flying to the US from Jakarta.

The Indonesia potential market to the US is quite remarkable, reaching up to 400,000 passengers every year. Capturing the potential, Garuda Indonesia targeting its US flight to Los Angeles or New York, as two cities with highest potential market.

In 2014, Garuda Indonesia announced its codeshare partnership with Delta Airlines – as the same member of SkyTeam alliance – for flight service to Los Angeles and Seattle via Tokyo Haneda.

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