Citilink, the low-cost carrier of Garuda Indonesia, aims to fly 7.2 million passengers this year, an 80 percent jump from last year.
JAKARTA- Citilink air carrier is certainly known from international travellers but it becomes increasingly popular in Indonesia as Garuda Indonesia’s offshoot in the low cost airline’s field. The rise of the airline is impressive: 1.3 million in 2011, four million last year and a target of 7.2 million in 2013.. “We are happy that we had a wonderful year for 2012,” said Aristo Kristandyo, the budget airline’s vice president for marketing and communications.
The Jakarta-based airline aims to generate US$372 million in revenue from ticket sales this year looking at an average ticket price of Rp 500,000 (US$ 56).
The airline also aims to this year generate US$ 5.6 million in ancillary revenue such as baggage fees and on-board food and services. It has become an important revenue source for low-cost carriers.
Citilink is due to almost double its fleet between 2012 and 2015. It currently operates 17 aircraft, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-300 and 737-400. However, by 2015, it targets to have 50 aircraft. The carrier two main basis are Jakarta and Surabaya with flights linking both cities domestically to Batam, Banjarmasin, Denpasar, Balikpapan, Medan, Makassar and Lombok. New routes are launched this month to Palembang in South Sumatra as well as Yogyakarta and Solo in Central Java.
Mr. Kristandyo declared to the Indonesian daily Jakarta Post that Citilink should mount up its operation by the end of the month to 98 flights. By year-end, the carrier hopes to operate the end of this month, and plans to reach 200 flights by the end of this year. Citilink vice-president added that the carrier is now looking to establish a base in Eastern Indonesia.
(Source: the Jakarta Post)
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.
