A New Bird Is In The Air

Garuda, named after the mythical bird, and the national airline of Indonesia, has recently launched its Mumbai-Jakarta service. The thrice weekly service is expected to attract Indian tourists who wish to experience the archipelago's varied treasures.

- Steena Joy

The recent launch of Garuda Indonesia's Mumbai-Jakarta service is the first direct link between India and Indonesia. The flights were terminated in 1998 after Indonesia was hit by an economic crisis. Speaking at the launch at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, M Arif Wibowo, president and CEO, Garuda Indonesia, said, “India is an important milestone in Garuda’s strategy to be present in this marketplace. This flight will help us grow more in this market.”

Garuda sees India as growing market and India is among the 90 countries to which Indonesia has extended its visa free facility. He added, “India is a potential market so we want to strengthen our economic linkages by serving passengers for not just business, but also for tourism. We thank GVK for their support.” The GVK spokesperson said, “This is a truly memorable moment connecting two great countries, two great people. This will create a strong bond between Indonesia and GVK with GVK ‘s interest in the Bali International Airport. Wonderful Indonesia and Incredible India; this is a wonderful opportunity for both countries to work together.” With this flight into Jakarta, Indians can now get better connectivity to major Indonesian cities like Bandung, Bali and Yogyakarta and enjoy the destination using services of DMCs like Diorama Travel Management Company.

Bandung