JAKARTA, (PNA/ANTARA News) — Garuda Indonesia has ordered 35 Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) 72-600 planes to serve medium cities.
“Garuda Indonesia has ordered ATR72-600 planes to develop and strengthen the routes in the domestic market,” said the airline company’s President Director Emirsyah Satar at the signing of a cooperation agreement between Garuda, ATR, and Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) on Tuesday.
He added that the ATR planes will be operational in a number of secondary cities to support the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Extension of Indonesia’s Economic Development (MP3EI).
The development of the routes, he said, would increase national connectivity, which is in line with MP3EI.
“The procurement of ATR72-600 planes is in line with the government’s plan to develop air transportation infrastructure, following the inauguration of new airports in Indonesia in the next two years,” he said.
He said a number of new airports will be opened, especially in new economic growth regions and tourist destinations in remote regions.
As per the cooperation agreement between Garuda, ATR, and NAC, Garuda will procure 35 ATR72-600 planes to serve short-haul flights.
CEO of ATR Filipo Begnato, meanwhile, said the first plane would be delivered in November 2013, while the rest will be delivered in stages until 2017.
“The agreement is part of the ATR72-600 expansion plan in Southeast Asia, where the fleet has become the new standard for air connectivity development and is also part of our commitment to support the development of aviation industry in this region,” he said.
Chairman of NAC Marin Moller, meanwhile, said the cooperation is strong, considering the fast development of aviation industry in Southeast Asia. The chairman added that ATR72-600 is the right choice for operations in small airports and isolated locations.
Deputy Transportation Minister Bambang Susantono said the cooperation was good because it would improve connectivity in Indonesia.
“The Ministry of Transportation is currently striving to develop airports in secondary cities,” he said.
Garuda would operate the ATR72-600, with 70-seat capacity, to among others, Labuan Bajo, Tambolaka and Ende in East Nusa Tenggara, Bima in West Nusa Tenggara, Banyuwangi and Jember in East Java, Bau-bau and Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi, Luwuk in Central Sulawesi, Mamuju in West Sulawesi, Poso in Central Sulawesi, Kaimana in Papua, and Tual/Langgur in Maluku.
This year, Garuda Indonesia and Citilink plan to procure 24 new planes to strengthen and develop their national and international flight networks.
As of the first semester of this year, Garuda Indonesia Group has operated 126 planes.