Garuda, KLM Sign Cooperation Agreement

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - PT Garuda Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding with Dutch airline company KLM here on Tuesday  to realize its plan to reopen flight services to Europe.

The company's president director, Emirsyah Satar, reaffirmed Garuda's plan to reopen its services to Europe in June next year.

Under the MOU, the two companies would for an initial stage jointly serve the Singapore-Denpasar vice versa route.

"The cooperation is the initial stage of the company's program for developing the business and preparations for the reopening of Garuda services to Europe in June in 2010," Emirsyah Satar said.

He said the cooperation would also serve as a strategy to increase frequency to meet customers' demand.

So far Garuda was serving the  Singapore-Denpasar route seven times a week and KLM three times a week as part of its Amsterdam-Singapore service.

On June 1, 2010, Garuda Indonesia would start serving the Jakarta-Amsterdam route via  Dubai.

Peter Hartman, the president and CEO of KLM, meanwhile said this cooperation would be of mutual benefit to the two companies.

"With the cooperation,  Garuda and KLM have taken a significant step in extending the cooperation that has been built so far," he said.

The marketing director of the ministry of tourism, Saptar Nirwandar, said he hoped the cooperation would help increase foreign tourist arrivals in Bali.

"Bali has the world's best Senare Per Aqua or Spa. Bali has a lot of unique attractions, particularly Hindu culture which tourists could enjoy," he said.

Vice minister of transportation, Bambang Susantono, meanwhile said opportunities would be opened when Garuda joined in the effort to develop the European market.

"We hope Garuda can  become a genuine player and not a mere substitute player of the European aviation industry," he said.

He said there would be winners and losers in business but "we hope Garuda will  continue to progress and attract more passengers." (*)