Returning Garuda strengthens European business

After a six-year gap in operations, Indonesia's national airline, Garuda Indonesia, has strengthened its foothold in the European air cargo market. Garuda returned to Europe in June with its daily Airbus A330 flights from Amsterdam to Jakarta via Dubai, which have generally been operation at full capacity of 15 tons, higher than forecast.
Mariet Zöllner, managing director of ECS in the Netherlands, Garuda's GSSA, said: We have received a great response form the freight forwarding industry to the opportunity of flying cargo again with Garuda Indonesia. Support for flights has grown since day one. Regular shipments include fresh salmon for both Dubai and Indonesia, mobile telephones, flowers and vegetables and biscuits for Australia!
"Despite its absence from the European market, Garuda has quickly proven it is a well organised airline with a highly educated and experienced team. We look forward to being part of the airline's continued network growth in Europe."
Europe banned all Indonesian airlines from flying within its airspace in June 2007, due to safety concerns, a ban that Garuda vigorously protested as being unwarrented. The ban was lifted in July 2009. Since then the airline has been expanding its global operations, ordering six A330-200s at the Farnborough Airshow in July.