Garuda Indonesia will soon become the only airline connecting Indonesia to the UK and Europe in under 15 hours when it launches its nonstop Jakarta-London Heathrow service on October 31, according to president and CEO Pahala Nugraha Mansury.
The Jakarta-London Heathrow service commenced last year, but with a stop in Singapore, while the return flight was direct to Jakarta.
Eric Chan, senior sales officer, Garuda, Hong Kong explained that the stop in Singapore was necessary as the Jakarta airport runway was then unable to accommodate the Boeing 777-300 ER for takeoff at full capacity.
“Now, with the new terminal and improved runway, we can offer direct service both ways,” he said, in an interview at the recent PATA Travel Mart in Hong Kong.
Chan said this gives the airline a competitive edge against other Asian airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific on the Kangaroo route.
By cutting out the Singapore stop and stopping in Jakarta, passengers from Australia save about four hours, according to Pahala.
“Besides, the service will make it more convenient for travellers from UK and the surrounding area to fly to the Pacific Asia, especially (along the) Kangaroo route to Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, as the Jakarta-London service is well connected with our flights to Australia.”
The thrice-weekly service will be operated with the Boeing 777-300 ER, which can carry 314 passengers in three classes.
Originally from New Zealand, Sheppard has lived and worked for International hotel brands including Hyatt and Dusit Thani hotels in Egypt, Indonesia, Australia and the US in a career spanning two decades.
