Garuda is looking to add a third daily frequency between Bangkok and Jakarta from December 1st. With the target of offering five daily flights from next year.
BANGKOK- Economic growth in Indonesia and the future ASEAN Economic Community have a positive effect on traffic between Thailand and Indonesia. Two years ago, Indonesia’s national carrier Garuda Indonesia had only a daily flight between Bangkok and Jakarta.
Since early 2011, the Indonesian carrier is serving twice a day the Bangkok-Jakarta route with a Boeing 737-800. From December 1st, Garuda will add another daily frequency on the Bangkok-Jakarta route. “ We experience an average load factor of 82% on our two daily frequencies due to a boom in business travel between both cities. While 80% of all passengers flying the route are Indonesian, we start to see also a higher number of Thai passengers flying for leisure purposes; especially to Yogyakarta and Bali, which are gaining increasingly in popularity,” explains I Wayan Subagia, Garuda Indonesia General Manager for Thailand, Myanmar, Laos & Cambodia. The flight departs from Bangkok at 6:30 am, arriving at 10 am in Jakarta with many possibilities to connect to Garuda’s extensive domestic network as well as to other regional destinations.
They are however further plans to strengthen Garuda Indonesia’s presence in Thailand at a time where competition picks up on the route. Beside Thai Airways and AirAsia, a fourth carrier Mandala Air, started recently a daily flight between both capitals. It does not deter Garuda to plan extra flights next year. According to the airline’s management in Bangkok, Garuda Indonesia is due to add a fourth daily frequency to Jakarta and is planning to launch a daily frequency to Denpasar (Bali). “We are also making a study on a potential Bangkok-Yogyakarta direct route due to the importance of Buddhism pilgrimage for Thai travellers”, adds Mr. Subagia.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
