Garuda increases capacity of Jakarta-Singapore service

Garuda Indonesia has announced plans to increase capacity on its Jakarta – Singapore route over the coming months, in response to the strong bi-directional demand.

The Indonesian flag carrier currently operates nine daily flights between Singapore and Jakarta using the 162-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft. However, starting this month, it will replace two of its daily Boeing B737-800 services with the larger Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

The A330-200 features a two-class configuration with 36 seats in business class, and 186 seats in economy class while the B737-800 offers only 12 seats in business class and 150 in economy. The aircraft change will increase the capacity of each flight by 37 per cent.

Singapore is Garuda’s busiest destination outside of Indonesia and the airline operates over 80 weekly flights out of the Lion city to four Indonesian destinations, namely Jakarta, Bali, Balikpapan and Surabaya. According to airline, the increase in capacity is also due to the high saleability of its business class offering on the route.

Nicodemus Lampe, Garuda's Asia vice-president, said: “We have also been seeing an increasing trend of passengers upgrading and opting for our Executive Class when travelling with us. This development enhances our continual push into the premium market as it marks a 300 to 350 per cent increase in our Executive Class capacity per flight.”

The A330-200 aircraft will be deployed for the afternoon GA829 service, which departs from Singapore at 1220, and the evening GA837 flight departing at 2020. It will also service the morning GA826 flight departing Jakarta at 0835 and the GA834 leaving at 1630.

There will be further adjustments on this route in November, typically one of the busier months of the year. Garuda will replace a further two B737-800 services with the larger A330-300 aircraft.

The A330 also features a two-class configuration and seats 257 passengers – 42 in business class and 215 in economy. The change will represent a capacity increase of 58 per cent.

Garuda’s Jakarta-Singapore schedule

Effective Nov 6: Singapore - Jakarta

Effective Nov 6: Jakarta - Singapore

Finally, from September 25 onwards, Garuda will be moving its check-in services at Changi T3 from the existing row 1 to the more centrally located row 5.

For more information, visit www.garuda-indonesia.com

Clement Huang