Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 12/22/2010 10:36 AM
Banking on a lucrative holiday season, Indonesian airlines have scheduled an extra 320 flights, with many of those serving popular tourist destinations, particularly Bali.
“Several airlines have informed us that they will run additional flights to serve more passengers during the Christmas and New Year period,” Tri Sunoko, the president director of state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II, said on Tuesday.
The airlines include national carrier PT Garuda Indonesia, AirAsia and Mandala Airlines.
Garuda, Sunoko said, would offer 16 additional flights between Jakarta and Denpasar, two more flights to Surabaya and 46 more flights to Pontianak.
AirAsia will have 144 extra flights to Denpasar, 16 more to Singapore, and Mandala Airlines will have 16 additional flights to Hong Kong, Sunoko said.
AirAsia said Tuesday that the company would add 27,000 seats during the year-end holidays to accommodate the high number of passengers.
“The majority of additional seats are for the Denpasar route because many passengers celebrate Christmas and New Year in Bali,” AirAsia corporate manager Audrey Progastama was quoted as saying by new portal kompas.com.
Audrey said the airline added 14,220 seats for the Jakarta-Denpasar route, 5,940 seats for the Jakarta-Singapore route and 6,840 seats for its Denpasar-Perth route.
“For the Jakarta-Denpasar route, we will fly seven times, up from four times, starting Dec. 17 to Jan. 8,” Audrey added.
Garuda Indonesia spokesman Pudjobroto said his company would increase flights to serve passengers celebrating Christmas and New Year.
The extra flights will begin on Dec. 23 until Jan. 3 next year.
“We will add 6,950 seats for the Jakarta-Denpasar route and 7,362 seats for the Jakarta-Singapore route,” Pudjobroto said.
The company will fly additional flights using its wide-bodied Boeing 747 and Airbus A330.
The additional flights out of Jakarta will accommodate the high number of travelers expected over the holiday period, which is predicted to grow by 15 percent or to 1.93 million from 1.67 million the previous year.
Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport serves 124,000 passengers daily.
Sunoko said Soekarno-Hatta airport would be prepared to handle the increased passenger numbers.
“We have upgraded our UPS and electricity generator to address possible electricity shortages, and added ground handling support facilities,” he said.
The airport came under criticism for a recent string of power outages that caused delays and errors.
Sunoko said his company would optimize security checks in every terminal to avoid long queues, as well as increase efficiency at the 217 check- in desks and help desks.
“We also increased parking facilities to 7,946 vehicles,” Sunoko said, adding that Angkasa Pura II had deployed 200 security officers to monitor and control security posts at Terminals IB and 2E.
The airline industry in Indonesia has grown significantly in the last five years. The Indonesia National Carrier Association (INACA) recorded that in 2009 there were 43.8 million air passengers compared to 37.4 million in 2008, an increase of 17 percent.
Showing posts with label Bali Airline News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bali Airline News. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Townsville to Bali service launches
Townsville’s first ever direct service to Bali with Strategic Airlines’ will take to the skies Friday December 3 when flight VC230 departs Townsville Airport at 1.30pm.
The Australian-owned, full-service airline will make history with its inaugural Townsville-Denpasar flight, which marks the beginning of a new era in international travel for the people of North and North-Western Queensland.
Strategic’s 156-seat Airbus A320 will be at full capacity when it departs Townsville Airport, with passengers from North Queensland, and South East Queensland, along with special guests of Strategic Airlines including singer/songwriter Lisa Mitchell.
Unlike budget carriers, Strategic passengers will receive complimentary meals and refreshments, and a common entertainment program available throughout the flight.
When the flight touches down at 4.45pm in Denpasar, invited guests of Strategic Airlines will enjoy a Balinese style launch party on the beach at Seminyak.
The new service will be operated twice-weekly, departing Townsville every Friday and Sunday, with the Airbus A320 featuring eight business class seats and 144 economy seats. The return flights will depart Denpasar at 9.30am every Saturday and Monday morning, and arrive in Townsville at 4.15pm.
Strategic’s head of commercial, Damien Vasta, said he was thrilled with the strong demand for the flights, which are available from $199 one way.
“The Townsville community has been overwhelmingly supportive of this new service and bookings have exceeded our expectations. The high level of demand speaks volumes for the fact that holidaying in Bali has never been so easy or affordable for North Queenslanders,” Vasta said.
“Strategic is very excited to bring this international travel opportunity to local and regional residents, tourists, and the surrounding mining communities.”
The Townsville-Bali service coincides with Strategic’s launch of twice-weekly direct flights between Brisbane and Townsville, which also commence tomorrow. The $89 one-way flights will depart Brisbane every Friday and Sunday at 9.50am, arriving in Townsville at 12 midday. The return service will depart Townsville every Saturday and Monday at 5.45pm, and arrive in Brisbane at 7.40pm.
http://www.aviationrecord.com/Cargo/tabid/68/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3110/Townsville-to-Bali-service-launches.aspx
The Australian-owned, full-service airline will make history with its inaugural Townsville-Denpasar flight, which marks the beginning of a new era in international travel for the people of North and North-Western Queensland.
Strategic’s 156-seat Airbus A320 will be at full capacity when it departs Townsville Airport, with passengers from North Queensland, and South East Queensland, along with special guests of Strategic Airlines including singer/songwriter Lisa Mitchell.
Unlike budget carriers, Strategic passengers will receive complimentary meals and refreshments, and a common entertainment program available throughout the flight.
When the flight touches down at 4.45pm in Denpasar, invited guests of Strategic Airlines will enjoy a Balinese style launch party on the beach at Seminyak.
The new service will be operated twice-weekly, departing Townsville every Friday and Sunday, with the Airbus A320 featuring eight business class seats and 144 economy seats. The return flights will depart Denpasar at 9.30am every Saturday and Monday morning, and arrive in Townsville at 4.15pm.
Strategic’s head of commercial, Damien Vasta, said he was thrilled with the strong demand for the flights, which are available from $199 one way.
“The Townsville community has been overwhelmingly supportive of this new service and bookings have exceeded our expectations. The high level of demand speaks volumes for the fact that holidaying in Bali has never been so easy or affordable for North Queenslanders,” Vasta said.
“Strategic is very excited to bring this international travel opportunity to local and regional residents, tourists, and the surrounding mining communities.”
The Townsville-Bali service coincides with Strategic’s launch of twice-weekly direct flights between Brisbane and Townsville, which also commence tomorrow. The $89 one-way flights will depart Brisbane every Friday and Sunday at 9.50am, arriving in Townsville at 12 midday. The return service will depart Townsville every Saturday and Monday at 5.45pm, and arrive in Brisbane at 7.40pm.
http://www.aviationrecord.com/Cargo/tabid/68/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3110/Townsville-to-Bali-service-launches.aspx
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
AirAsia president director Dharmadi announced in Darwin on Tuesday that daily flights would begin from December 23 between Darwin and Denpasar in Bali
Asian airline to establish Darwin hub
Larine Statham
November 23, 2010 - 2:39PM
AAP
Budget airline AirAsia will establish its fourth Australian hub in Darwin.
Indonesia AirAsia president director Dharmadi announced in Darwin on Tuesday that daily flights would begin from December 23 between Darwin and Denpasar in Bali.
AirAsia will become the second airline to fly the route currently serviced by JetStar.
Advertisement: Story continues below
AirAsia already operates flights out of Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast, primarily to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
Concerns have been raised this year about the fees charged by Northern Territory Airports for carriers to operate out of Darwin Airport, as well as the flight time restrictions imposed on airlines.
Earlier this month, Tiger Airways cancelled flights, on which some passengers were already booked, between Darwin and Melbourne for a period of almost two months due to poor demand.
Mr Dharmadi told reporters in Darwin on Tuesday that AirAsia would trial the route for up to six months but that he was confident of its success.
"We will stay as long as you fly ... hopefully forever," he said.
He said the low-cost airline had not dumped any of its routes, either in Australia or Asia, since it began operating a decade ago.
He said the cost of operating out of Darwin per unit would reduce as passenger load numbers increased.
Mr Dharmadi said Bali had always been a very popular short break destination for Australians but added that Denpasar was fast becoming an AirAsia hub for connecting flights into other parts of Asia.
He said he hoped the move would result in more Indonesians visiting the Northern Territory.
Northern Territory Airports chief executive officer Ian Kew said "exciting new airlines" were being attracted to Darwin to establish themselves in the "Australian gateway to Asia" market.
He said $40 million would be spent expanding the airport over the next two years.
"We welcome competition ... and I know the boss of JetStar will welcome it as well," Mr Kew said, adding that negotiations with AirAsia had been running for about 12 months.
He said Darwinians had been "cut off" in the past and were forced to travel through places like Brisbane to get to Asia.
To celebrate the new route Mr Dharmadi said 10,000 $99(AUD) one-way flights would go on sale at midnight on Tuesday, to fly between December 23 and November, 2011.
He said that when the four-day sale concluded, the flights would typically be priced between $175 to $200, but that they could cost up to $400.
NT Tourism Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said, in a statement released on Tuesday, inbound flights would boost the NT economy.
The Top End currently attracts about 11,000 visitors from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand each year.
The tourism industry employs around 18,000 people in the NT and contributes $1.7 billion to the economy.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/asian-airline-to-establish-darwin-hub-20101123-1850p.html
Larine Statham
November 23, 2010 - 2:39PM
AAP
Budget airline AirAsia will establish its fourth Australian hub in Darwin.
Indonesia AirAsia president director Dharmadi announced in Darwin on Tuesday that daily flights would begin from December 23 between Darwin and Denpasar in Bali.
AirAsia will become the second airline to fly the route currently serviced by JetStar.
Advertisement: Story continues below
AirAsia already operates flights out of Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast, primarily to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
Concerns have been raised this year about the fees charged by Northern Territory Airports for carriers to operate out of Darwin Airport, as well as the flight time restrictions imposed on airlines.
Earlier this month, Tiger Airways cancelled flights, on which some passengers were already booked, between Darwin and Melbourne for a period of almost two months due to poor demand.
Mr Dharmadi told reporters in Darwin on Tuesday that AirAsia would trial the route for up to six months but that he was confident of its success.
"We will stay as long as you fly ... hopefully forever," he said.
He said the low-cost airline had not dumped any of its routes, either in Australia or Asia, since it began operating a decade ago.
He said the cost of operating out of Darwin per unit would reduce as passenger load numbers increased.
Mr Dharmadi said Bali had always been a very popular short break destination for Australians but added that Denpasar was fast becoming an AirAsia hub for connecting flights into other parts of Asia.
He said he hoped the move would result in more Indonesians visiting the Northern Territory.
Northern Territory Airports chief executive officer Ian Kew said "exciting new airlines" were being attracted to Darwin to establish themselves in the "Australian gateway to Asia" market.
He said $40 million would be spent expanding the airport over the next two years.
"We welcome competition ... and I know the boss of JetStar will welcome it as well," Mr Kew said, adding that negotiations with AirAsia had been running for about 12 months.
He said Darwinians had been "cut off" in the past and were forced to travel through places like Brisbane to get to Asia.
To celebrate the new route Mr Dharmadi said 10,000 $99(AUD) one-way flights would go on sale at midnight on Tuesday, to fly between December 23 and November, 2011.
He said that when the four-day sale concluded, the flights would typically be priced between $175 to $200, but that they could cost up to $400.
NT Tourism Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said, in a statement released on Tuesday, inbound flights would boost the NT economy.
The Top End currently attracts about 11,000 visitors from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand each year.
The tourism industry employs around 18,000 people in the NT and contributes $1.7 billion to the economy.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/asian-airline-to-establish-darwin-hub-20101123-1850p.html
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Unruly man forces flight to land in Broome
November 21, 2010 - 4:44PM
AAP
A passenger's unruly behaviour forced a flight from Bali to Melbourne to make an unscheduled landing in Broome on Sunday.
The 148 passengers on the Virgin Blue flight were stranded for several hours in Broome.
One passenger, Katie Payne, said his behaviour caused the pilot and flight crew to fear for the safety of those on board and the plane was diverted to Broome, where it was met by police at 1am (WST).
Advertisement: Story continues below
Ms Payne said two prison guards on board the flight helped the crew handcuff the man and take him to the back of the plane.
"He was becoming increasingly aggressive to the point where the pilot and the crew feared for the other passengers' safety," she told the ABC Radio.
"The staff on board were trying to keep us calm while it was all happening because it was a pretty unusual and quite frightening circumstance."
One of the off-duty prison guards, Mark Cornell, said the man was acting so aggressively they had difficulty trying to restrain him to his seat.
"He had his arms up in the air, he was twisting and he had slight muscle spasms at the time," Mr Cornell told ABC Radio.
"By the time we landed his muscle spasms were ... almost violent and we were having trouble actually keeping him pinned to the seat."
Virgin Blue spokeswoman Melissa Thomson said the man was handcuffed because he disobeyed instructions and requests by the crew.
Sergeant Geoff Dorrington, of Broome police, said the passenger, a 40-year-old Melbourne man, did not threaten anyone on the plane but had displayed "bizarre" behaviour that had alarmed passengers and crew.
"He has an undiagnosed mental condition and has been admitted to hospital," he told AAP.
"He will be flown to Perth for treatment."
He did not appear to have been affected by drugs and would not face criminal charge, Sgt Dorrington said.
Ms Thomson said the 148 passengers had been put up in hotels and would be flown back to Melbourne later on Sunday.
An engineer had to be flown from Perth to check the plane, which was reported to have made a heavy landing.
© 2010 AAP http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/unruly-man-forces-flight-to-land-in-broome-20101121-182av.html
AAP
A passenger's unruly behaviour forced a flight from Bali to Melbourne to make an unscheduled landing in Broome on Sunday.
The 148 passengers on the Virgin Blue flight were stranded for several hours in Broome.
One passenger, Katie Payne, said his behaviour caused the pilot and flight crew to fear for the safety of those on board and the plane was diverted to Broome, where it was met by police at 1am (WST).
Advertisement: Story continues below
Ms Payne said two prison guards on board the flight helped the crew handcuff the man and take him to the back of the plane.
"He was becoming increasingly aggressive to the point where the pilot and the crew feared for the other passengers' safety," she told the ABC Radio.
"The staff on board were trying to keep us calm while it was all happening because it was a pretty unusual and quite frightening circumstance."
One of the off-duty prison guards, Mark Cornell, said the man was acting so aggressively they had difficulty trying to restrain him to his seat.
"He had his arms up in the air, he was twisting and he had slight muscle spasms at the time," Mr Cornell told ABC Radio.
"By the time we landed his muscle spasms were ... almost violent and we were having trouble actually keeping him pinned to the seat."
Virgin Blue spokeswoman Melissa Thomson said the man was handcuffed because he disobeyed instructions and requests by the crew.
Sergeant Geoff Dorrington, of Broome police, said the passenger, a 40-year-old Melbourne man, did not threaten anyone on the plane but had displayed "bizarre" behaviour that had alarmed passengers and crew.
"He has an undiagnosed mental condition and has been admitted to hospital," he told AAP.
"He will be flown to Perth for treatment."
He did not appear to have been affected by drugs and would not face criminal charge, Sgt Dorrington said.
Ms Thomson said the 148 passengers had been put up in hotels and would be flown back to Melbourne later on Sunday.
An engineer had to be flown from Perth to check the plane, which was reported to have made a heavy landing.
© 2010 AAP http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/unruly-man-forces-flight-to-land-in-broome-20101121-182av.html
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Dream Daily Double Arrives With Phuket-Bali Flights
Passengers may grow younger at the prospect of Phuket and Bali in one holiday
Photo by phuketwan.com
By Chutima Sidasathian
Sunday, November 7, 2010
DAILY flights between Phuket and Bali will begin from December 17 with AirAsia tickets going on sale online from Monday, Phuketwan has learned.
The General Manager of Thai AirAsia, Tassapon Bijleveld, confirmed late yesterday that the long-awaited flights are about to begin. Phuketwan revealed the Bali-Phuket plans of AirAsia exclusively back in June.
Linking South-East Asia's two most popular tropical holiday island destinations has long been in AirAsia's planning. And with the Aussie $ riding above parity with the US dollar, the outlook for the route has never been stronger.
While Phuket and Bali have long been favorites among Australian holidaymakers, Europeans are also expected to relish the opportunity to experience the two destinations on one trip, too.
''We look forward to giving Aussies and everybody else the chance to see both of these favorite destinations,'' said Khun Tassapon.
The concept of a two-week break and the chance to spend a week on Phuket followed by a week on Bali seems likely to quickly generate good-value packages put together jointly by resorts on both islands.
The ability of tourists to more easily make immediate comparisons between the rival destinations should in theory improve treatment of visitors on both Phuket and Bali.
On a visit to Phuket in October, Indonesia's Consul and Head of Mission, Heru Wicaksono, who is based at the Indonesian Consulate in Songkla, invited Phuket's new Governor, Tree Ackaradecha, to fly from Phuket to Bali.
From Monday, AirAsia will be extending the invitation to all of Phuket's residents and future visitors. Arrivals and departures through Phuket airport are expected to surge beyond the 5.8 million record to 7.5 million this calendar year, in theory exceeding the airport's capacity.
http://english.cri.cn/6909/2010/11/07/45s603463.htm
Photo by phuketwan.com
By Chutima Sidasathian
Sunday, November 7, 2010
DAILY flights between Phuket and Bali will begin from December 17 with AirAsia tickets going on sale online from Monday, Phuketwan has learned.
The General Manager of Thai AirAsia, Tassapon Bijleveld, confirmed late yesterday that the long-awaited flights are about to begin. Phuketwan revealed the Bali-Phuket plans of AirAsia exclusively back in June.
Linking South-East Asia's two most popular tropical holiday island destinations has long been in AirAsia's planning. And with the Aussie $ riding above parity with the US dollar, the outlook for the route has never been stronger.
While Phuket and Bali have long been favorites among Australian holidaymakers, Europeans are also expected to relish the opportunity to experience the two destinations on one trip, too.
''We look forward to giving Aussies and everybody else the chance to see both of these favorite destinations,'' said Khun Tassapon.
The concept of a two-week break and the chance to spend a week on Phuket followed by a week on Bali seems likely to quickly generate good-value packages put together jointly by resorts on both islands.
The ability of tourists to more easily make immediate comparisons between the rival destinations should in theory improve treatment of visitors on both Phuket and Bali.
On a visit to Phuket in October, Indonesia's Consul and Head of Mission, Heru Wicaksono, who is based at the Indonesian Consulate in Songkla, invited Phuket's new Governor, Tree Ackaradecha, to fly from Phuket to Bali.
From Monday, AirAsia will be extending the invitation to all of Phuket's residents and future visitors. Arrivals and departures through Phuket airport are expected to surge beyond the 5.8 million record to 7.5 million this calendar year, in theory exceeding the airport's capacity.
http://english.cri.cn/6909/2010/11/07/45s603463.htm
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Merapi’s Ash Blows Airlines in Indonesia Off Course
Dessy Sagita, Candra Malik & AFP | November 03, 2010
Ash from Mount Merapi Ash from Mount Merapi's eruptions forced the cancellation of 6 international flights on Tuesday. (EPA Photo/Adi Weda)
Jakarta. Airlines on Tuesday were warned to avoid certain routes over Yogyakarta and Central Java after Mount Merapi continued to belch dangerous hot ash high into the air, forcing the cancellation of six international flights.
Bambang Ervan, a spokesman from the Transportation Ministry, said an official warning had been issued to all airlines to “use alternative routes for safety reasons due to the volcanic ash.”
Malaysia-based AirAsia said it had canceled four flights linking Kuala Lumpur with Yogyakarta and nearby Solo on Tuesday, while SilkAir, the regional carrier of Singapore Airlines, said took two flights between Singapore and Solo off the schedule.
“The flights … to Yogya and Solo have been canceled only for November 2,” an AirAsia spokeswoman said. “We will issue an update if there are any further developments.”
A statement from SilkAir on Tuesday confirmed flights between Singapore and Solo had been canceled.
Thirty-eight people have been killed since the 2,914-meter Merapi, the most active of the scores of volcanoes across the archipelago, began erupting last week.
Merapi spewed plumes of hot ash high into the air at least six times on Tuesday, with experts warning the eruptions could continue for weeks or even months.
Raden Sukhyar, chief of the geology department at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, told the Jakarta Globe that monitoring of the volcano had shown no signs of it letting up any time soon.
He said swirling winds were making the situation worse. “Sometimes it’s heading north, west or in another direction; we don’t know for sure when the airport will be affected,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered governors and district heads in Yogyakarta and Central Java to personally lead efforts to help the disaster victims.
“You should not only be present at the evacuation camps when I come to visit — that does not show good leadership,” he said during on a brief stopover in Semarang while on his way to Yogyakarta and Magelang, Central Java, to visit those displaced by the eruptions.
The president said local leaders should not be complacent about the scale of the disaster and should make every effort to take care of victims.
“We must keep working through to the end, until Mount Merapi calms down, until our citizens are returned to their homes,” he said, adding that villages damaged by the eruption should be rehabilitated and the volcanic ash that has blanketed the entire region cleaned up.
Yudhoyono also ordered provincial governments to install permanent signs to direct future evacuations and ensure that people did not live in the danger zone surrounding the volcano.
But Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri said there were no plans to relocate residents from Merapi’s slopes, adding that local populations were considered to have understood the character of the volcano after living there for many years.
Aside from rebuilding houses, the government will also replace the livestock lost in the eruptions, as well as providing Rp 4 million ($450) in compensation to the families of those killed.
Yudhoyono on Tuesday night visited the Tunjung shelter in Magelang accompanied by senior officials.
He is scheduled to visit Yogyakarta on Wednesday.
Monday, September 20, 2010
DIRECT flights between Cairns and Bali are on the radar of international carrier Strategic Airlines
We'll go to Bali too - maybe
Nick Dalton
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
© The Cairns Post
DIRECT flights between Cairns and Bali are on the radar of international carrier Strategic Airlines. Would you like to fly to Bali direct?
Airline head of commercial Damien Vasta said the flights could happen as early as next year.
But, he said, it would depend upon demand and the response from Cairns residents to the airline’s just announced flights to Denpasar from Townsville.
"It is certainly not off the radar," Mr Vasta said.
Last week, Strategic announced it would start twice weekly flights to Bali from Townsville in December.
Mr Vasta revealed it was "a toss up" between Townsville and Cairns for the start of the December services to the popular leisure destination.
But he said one of the factors in Townsville’s favour was that it had no overseas services, despite all the facilities.
Mr Vasta said he had held talks with Cairns airport and would continue to do so.
Cairns Airport chief executive officer Stephen Gregg said he had held discussions.
Mr Vasta said they would closely monitor the demand from Cairns and bookings by travel agents.
He said if there were enough people travelling from Cairns to Townsville to catch the Bali flights then there was a possibility a service could operate from the Far North direct to Denpasar.
Mr Vasta said it would have to be financially viable and it was something that could be considered in 2011.
"It wouldn’t be until the new year and it would need to stack up," he said.
Mr Vasta said the Cairns-Bali flight could come via Townsville.
He said the airline would expand its services and fleet but would not add new aircraft for the sake of it.
The airline has three Airbus A320s and one A330.
The airline will fly to Bali on Friday and Sunday with an A320 featuring 12 business class seats and 144 economy class seats.
To coincide with the new international service, the airline is also launching twice-weekly direct flights between Brisbane and Townsville from December 3.
The airline will offer an introductory one-way Townsville to Bali fare of $199.
Mr Vasta said the Townsville service was to fulfil a growing need for local and regional residents, tourists, and sectors such as mining.
Nick Dalton
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
© The Cairns Post
DIRECT flights between Cairns and Bali are on the radar of international carrier Strategic Airlines. Would you like to fly to Bali direct?
Airline head of commercial Damien Vasta said the flights could happen as early as next year.
But, he said, it would depend upon demand and the response from Cairns residents to the airline’s just announced flights to Denpasar from Townsville.
"It is certainly not off the radar," Mr Vasta said.
Last week, Strategic announced it would start twice weekly flights to Bali from Townsville in December.
Mr Vasta revealed it was "a toss up" between Townsville and Cairns for the start of the December services to the popular leisure destination.
But he said one of the factors in Townsville’s favour was that it had no overseas services, despite all the facilities.
Mr Vasta said he had held talks with Cairns airport and would continue to do so.
Cairns Airport chief executive officer Stephen Gregg said he had held discussions.
Mr Vasta said they would closely monitor the demand from Cairns and bookings by travel agents.
He said if there were enough people travelling from Cairns to Townsville to catch the Bali flights then there was a possibility a service could operate from the Far North direct to Denpasar.
Mr Vasta said it would have to be financially viable and it was something that could be considered in 2011.
"It wouldn’t be until the new year and it would need to stack up," he said.
Mr Vasta said the Cairns-Bali flight could come via Townsville.
He said the airline would expand its services and fleet but would not add new aircraft for the sake of it.
The airline has three Airbus A320s and one A330.
The airline will fly to Bali on Friday and Sunday with an A320 featuring 12 business class seats and 144 economy class seats.
To coincide with the new international service, the airline is also launching twice-weekly direct flights between Brisbane and Townsville from December 3.
The airline will offer an introductory one-way Townsville to Bali fare of $199.
Mr Vasta said the Townsville service was to fulfil a growing need for local and regional residents, tourists, and sectors such as mining.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Garuda Indonesia Operates New Boeing 737-800NG on Singapore - Bali Route
Search ASIA Travel Tips .com Send to Friend ASIA Travel Tips.com Latest Travel News Monday, 2 August 2010
[HD video below] Indonesia’s national airline, Garuda Indonesia, has started operating its new 162-seater Boeing 737-800NG aircraft from Singapore to Bali which features the carrier’s new ‘Nature’s Wing’ livery, signature interior and upgraded on-board services.
Garuda Indonesia’s new Boeing 737-800NG also includes individual touch-screen LCD TVs throughout Executive and Economy Classes with Video on Demand (VOD) entertainment systems offering 25 feature films and 250 audio tracks.
“Bali is one of the top selling routes from Singapore and we’re confident that with the new aircraft and improvements in service quality, we will be able to capture a larger share of the market,” said Risnandi, Senior General Manager, Area Asia, Garuda Indonesia.
Garuda Indonesia also recently introduced a VIP service for Executive Class passengers travelling from Singapore. Passengers will be able to check-in using the luxurious JetQuay CIP terminal located next to Changi International Airport where they will be met by a personal concierge who will handle check-in, immigration and baggage clearances, while they relax in the spacious five-star lounge. They will then be transported via a dedicated buggy to the boarding gate in the main terminals when the flight is ready to depart.
Garuda Indonesia currently operates seven flights a week to Denpasar from Singapore. GA841 departs Singapore daily at 2.40pm and arrives in Denpasar at 5.15pm. The inbound flight GA840 departs Denpasar at 11.10am to arrive in Singapore at 1.40pm.
Effective from 31 October 2010, the outbound flight will depart Singapore at an earlier time of 9am and arrive in Denpasar at 11.35am. The return service will take off at 8pm and arrive in Singapore at 10.30pm.
To celebrate the introduction of the new aircraft on this route, Garuda Indonesia is also running a two-week sale till 17 August 2010. All-inclusive Singapore - Bali return flights in economy class will be sold at just Sin$250, valid for travel from 5 August to 30 November 2010.
Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737-800 NG @ Singapore Airshow 2010
[HD video below] Indonesia’s national airline, Garuda Indonesia, has started operating its new 162-seater Boeing 737-800NG aircraft from Singapore to Bali which features the carrier’s new ‘Nature’s Wing’ livery, signature interior and upgraded on-board services.
Garuda Indonesia’s new Boeing 737-800NG also includes individual touch-screen LCD TVs throughout Executive and Economy Classes with Video on Demand (VOD) entertainment systems offering 25 feature films and 250 audio tracks.
“Bali is one of the top selling routes from Singapore and we’re confident that with the new aircraft and improvements in service quality, we will be able to capture a larger share of the market,” said Risnandi, Senior General Manager, Area Asia, Garuda Indonesia.
Garuda Indonesia also recently introduced a VIP service for Executive Class passengers travelling from Singapore. Passengers will be able to check-in using the luxurious JetQuay CIP terminal located next to Changi International Airport where they will be met by a personal concierge who will handle check-in, immigration and baggage clearances, while they relax in the spacious five-star lounge. They will then be transported via a dedicated buggy to the boarding gate in the main terminals when the flight is ready to depart.
Garuda Indonesia currently operates seven flights a week to Denpasar from Singapore. GA841 departs Singapore daily at 2.40pm and arrives in Denpasar at 5.15pm. The inbound flight GA840 departs Denpasar at 11.10am to arrive in Singapore at 1.40pm.
Effective from 31 October 2010, the outbound flight will depart Singapore at an earlier time of 9am and arrive in Denpasar at 11.35am. The return service will take off at 8pm and arrive in Singapore at 10.30pm.
To celebrate the introduction of the new aircraft on this route, Garuda Indonesia is also running a two-week sale till 17 August 2010. All-inclusive Singapore - Bali return flights in economy class will be sold at just Sin$250, valid for travel from 5 August to 30 November 2010.
Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737-800 NG @ Singapore Airshow 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Garuda Faces Strike Threat As Unions and Bosses Clash
Irvan Tisnabudi Jakarta Globe
In this file photo, a PT Garuda Indonesia airplane takes off from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Indonesia. Union leaders and management at Garuda Indonesia are at loggerheads over recent labor negotiations. (Bloomberg Photo/Dimas Ardian)
Indonesia. Union leaders and management at PT Garuda Indonesia are at loggerheads over recent labor negotiations, with unions saying their bosses have reneged on an agreement and management claiming no deal has been reached.
Union leaders said they would petition President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday to intervene, adding that a strike was not out of the question.
Tomy Tampatty, spokesman for union Serikat Pekerja Garuda (Sekarga), said negotiations in February had resulted in an agreement for an across-the-board 50 percent pay rise for all workers, as well as lowering the retirement age for pilots from 60 to 56.
“The joint agreement resulted in those two decisions, but management still won’t admit to those two terms,” Tomy told the Jakarta Globe.
However, Garuda corporate secretary Pudjobroto told the Globe that the negotiations were ongoing and no agreement had been reached.
“The so-called joint ‘agreement’ is still being discussed with the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, so it hasn’t become a formal agreement yet,” he said. “Those terms are merely demands from the workers union at this point.
“The ministry will help sort out the demands of the employees and decide which demands will be agreed upon.”
Pudjobroto said that for the past three years Garuda had adjusted salaries in line with workers’ performance and this had helped the airline’s transformation from money-loser to profit-maker.
Previously, they had periodically increased all workers’ salaries regardless of performance.
Pudjobroto also claimed that Garuda pilots had agreed to maintain the retirement age of 60, even though national law mandates retirement for all employees at 56.
However, Stephanus Gerardus, president of the Garuda Pilots’ Association (APG), told the Globe that the pilots did, in fact, request the retirement age be lowered to 56, and that management had agreed.
(Most of Garuda’s 600 pilots are members of Sekarga and APG.)
In a battle of wills that is likely to drag on, both sides have dismissed the other’s claims.
Pudjobroto has even questioned whether APG has the support of the majority of its 5,200 members.
“The demands of the workers’ union do not reflect the demands of all Garuda employees,” Pudjobroto said.
Sekarga president Salim Abubakar countered that the demands of the union did, in fact, reflect the preferences of Garuda employees, while offering some dramatic leveraging of his own.
“A strike will be conducted as soon as possible, most likely within this year, if Garuda’s management does not commit to our joint agreement with them,” Salim said.
Tomy further attested to Sekarga’s resolve, announcing that the union would send a letter to Yudhoyono on Thursday regarding their demands.
But when asked about the possibility of a strike, Tomy was less threatening, saying that it would be the last option if negotiations failed. Still, he wouldn’t completely rule out resorting to a work stoppage.
“We’ll see how the president reacts to our letter,” the union leader said.
In this file photo, a PT Garuda Indonesia airplane takes off from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Indonesia. Union leaders and management at Garuda Indonesia are at loggerheads over recent labor negotiations. (Bloomberg Photo/Dimas Ardian)
Indonesia. Union leaders and management at PT Garuda Indonesia are at loggerheads over recent labor negotiations, with unions saying their bosses have reneged on an agreement and management claiming no deal has been reached.
Union leaders said they would petition President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday to intervene, adding that a strike was not out of the question.
Tomy Tampatty, spokesman for union Serikat Pekerja Garuda (Sekarga), said negotiations in February had resulted in an agreement for an across-the-board 50 percent pay rise for all workers, as well as lowering the retirement age for pilots from 60 to 56.
“The joint agreement resulted in those two decisions, but management still won’t admit to those two terms,” Tomy told the Jakarta Globe.
However, Garuda corporate secretary Pudjobroto told the Globe that the negotiations were ongoing and no agreement had been reached.
“The so-called joint ‘agreement’ is still being discussed with the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, so it hasn’t become a formal agreement yet,” he said. “Those terms are merely demands from the workers union at this point.
“The ministry will help sort out the demands of the employees and decide which demands will be agreed upon.”
Pudjobroto said that for the past three years Garuda had adjusted salaries in line with workers’ performance and this had helped the airline’s transformation from money-loser to profit-maker.
Previously, they had periodically increased all workers’ salaries regardless of performance.
Pudjobroto also claimed that Garuda pilots had agreed to maintain the retirement age of 60, even though national law mandates retirement for all employees at 56.
However, Stephanus Gerardus, president of the Garuda Pilots’ Association (APG), told the Globe that the pilots did, in fact, request the retirement age be lowered to 56, and that management had agreed.
(Most of Garuda’s 600 pilots are members of Sekarga and APG.)
In a battle of wills that is likely to drag on, both sides have dismissed the other’s claims.
Pudjobroto has even questioned whether APG has the support of the majority of its 5,200 members.
“The demands of the workers’ union do not reflect the demands of all Garuda employees,” Pudjobroto said.
Sekarga president Salim Abubakar countered that the demands of the union did, in fact, reflect the preferences of Garuda employees, while offering some dramatic leveraging of his own.
“A strike will be conducted as soon as possible, most likely within this year, if Garuda’s management does not commit to our joint agreement with them,” Salim said.
Tomy further attested to Sekarga’s resolve, announcing that the union would send a letter to Yudhoyono on Thursday regarding their demands.
But when asked about the possibility of a strike, Tomy was less threatening, saying that it would be the last option if negotiations failed. Still, he wouldn’t completely rule out resorting to a work stoppage.
“We’ll see how the president reacts to our letter,” the union leader said.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Garuda Resuming Flights to Europe
State-owned airline PT Garuda Indonesia will resume flying to Europe on Tuesday after a six-year hiatus, launching a joint daily service to Amsterdam with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
Spokesman Pujobroto said on Sunday that Garuda planned to resume services to Frankfurt, London and Paris in cooperation with KLM next year.
“We’re looking to cooperate with KLM in the form of cost-sharing for our European routes,” he said, referring to an agreement that would establish connecting flights from separate carriers on the same ticket.
The national flag carrier stopped flying to European destinations in 2004 as the then-struggling airline tried to cut costs. Three years later, the European Union banned all Indonesian airlines from flying to EU destinations, citing safety concerns after a scathing audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization. The ban was lifted on several Indonesian airlines, including Garuda, last year.
Garuda’s first flight to Amsterdam will depart on Tuesday carrying 108 VIP passengers, including Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi and Garuda chief executive Emirsyah Satar, in a new Airbus 330-200.
When the flight arrives at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport the next day there will be an official ceremony attended by KLM chief executive Peter F Hartman and Dutch Transportation Minister Camiel Eurlings.
Pujobroto said Garuda was aiming to achieve at least an 80 percent capacity on its Amsterdam flights. “We’re confident that our service, the Garuda Indonesia Experience, combined with the hospitality and uniqueness of Indonesia, will be able to attract tourists and businesspeople to Indonesia,” he said.
I Gede Pitana, director of international promotions at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said the reopening of the route would play an important role in promoting tourism to Indonesia.
The ministry is aiming for 200,000 tourists from the Netherlands this year, and the reopening of Garuda’s Amsterdam route will be important in achieving that figure, Pitana said.
“It is highly likely that we will be able to meet our target of 200,000 tourists from the Netherlands with the reopening of Garuda’s Amsterdam route,” he said.
“The development of tourism is very much dependent on air transportation. This is also a sign that the carrier’s effort to improve its service has been recognized. This will greatly improve foreign tourists’ confidence in visiting Indonesia,” Pitana said.
For years Garuda was viewed as being badly run and it made a series of annual losses.
A March 2007 crash in Yogyakarta in which five Australian diplomats and journalists were killed badly damaged its reputation and was partially responsible for the EU ban. However, the airline has returned to profit in recent years, netting Rp 1 trillion ($110 million) in 2009.
Garuda was also named the world’s most improved airline by British-based consultancy Skytrax at this year’s World Airline Awards in Germany.
It is among 27 airlines in the world to have been awarded a four-star rating from Skytrax.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Airline in $99 fares war to Bali
Editors Note: A new air fare war with air Asia probably means even more poor service from form them. My personal experience flying three times with them was two times was late an average of two hours. If you don't mind hanging around airports take advantage of their low fares.
GEOFFREY THOMAS AVIATION EDITOR, The West Australian May 17, 2010, 4:50 am
AIRASIA X WANTS YOU TO NAME ITS PLANES Name an aircraft to win free flights and have your name immortalised in aviation history X-TERMINATOR of full price airfares AirAsia X wants wordsmiths from every corner of the globe to put on their thinking caps and help them name their planes. The rapidly expanding budget airline currently operates three aircraft and has a further 23 A330s and one A340s on order. It is calling on the global community to come up with some X-treme names as part of a naming competition for their new aircraft. Candidates who submit names chosen by AirAsia X receive free return airfares to anywhere on the AirAsia X network, which now includes Stansted London as well as Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne and Hangzhou routes. Winning wordsmiths will have their personal names immortalised on the aircraft - inside the body and outside the cabin. AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani wants AirAsia X aircraft names to reflect the airline's 'X' factor. "In many ways, the X in AirAsia X is a perfect symbol depicting, in a singular, powerfully emotive letter, the x-tremely challenging context, x-citing product and x-traordinary team that's made it possible for so many to travel to see x-otic faraway destinations never dreamt possible before," he said on his online blog. "X is about extremes. Blazing new paths É X is different. X is in your face. X is an attitude, a lifestyle." AirAsia X this year expects to take delivery of three new A330s and staff have put forward Xploration, Xpedition and Xcursion as possible names for the aircraft. The airline's first two A330's were called Xuberance and Xhileration, while the plane that services the Kuala Lumpur to London route is called Xcalibur. Many aircraft spotters and enthusiasts will already know the airline's official call-sign is Xanadu. Entries can be submitted at http://blog.airasia.com/index.php/xanadu-calling-name-a-plane-and-get-your
AirAsia / Supplied ©
The AirAsia group is due to launch a new airfare war to Asia tomorrow with one-way fares expected to be just $99 or less to Bali and Kuala Lumpur.
It is understood there will be several million seats available Asia-wide for travel later this year and in 2011 to all the group's 65 destinations.
Previous sales by AirAsia have sold out in hours and the airline expects the seats to be snapped up.
After AirAsia started offering flights from Perth to Kuala Lumpur in late 2008 air travel to Kuala Lumpur leapt by 38 per cent in 2009, and is up another 34 per cent this year.
The airline started Bali services from Perth in 2009 and air travel to Bali has skyrocketed - climbing 46 per cent last year, while early figures point to another 50 per cent increase this year.
AirAsia will increase its Bali services to three times daily from June 1 and Kuala Lumpur to twice a day from August 1.
Last month, AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes promised West Australians "more flights and more bargains".
"Unlike other airlines we don't put fares up when our planes are full, we add more flights," Mr Fernandes said.
And unlike other airlines that were haemorrhaging red ink last year as passengers stayed away, AirAsia recorded a $183 million net profit with a 24 per cent growth in passengers to 22.7 million, making it the fastest-growing and most successful airline in the Asia-Pacific region.
The airline has 82 aircraft making 627 flights a day on 136 routes to 18 countries throughout Asia, Australia and India.
Those numbers are more extraordinary given that seven years ago the airline had just two aircraft and six routes and founder Mr Fernandes rarely, if ever, received an audience with regulators or politicians, let alone a cup of coffee from a banker.
Now the red carpet is there wherever he goes as airports build new terminals to accommodate his airline's expansion and politicians scramble to be seen at the airline's ever increasing occasions of ordering more aircraft or making new route announcements.
GEOFFREY THOMAS AVIATION EDITOR, The West Australian May 17, 2010, 4:50 am
AIRASIA X WANTS YOU TO NAME ITS PLANES Name an aircraft to win free flights and have your name immortalised in aviation history X-TERMINATOR of full price airfares AirAsia X wants wordsmiths from every corner of the globe to put on their thinking caps and help them name their planes. The rapidly expanding budget airline currently operates three aircraft and has a further 23 A330s and one A340s on order. It is calling on the global community to come up with some X-treme names as part of a naming competition for their new aircraft. Candidates who submit names chosen by AirAsia X receive free return airfares to anywhere on the AirAsia X network, which now includes Stansted London as well as Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne and Hangzhou routes. Winning wordsmiths will have their personal names immortalised on the aircraft - inside the body and outside the cabin. AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani wants AirAsia X aircraft names to reflect the airline's 'X' factor. "In many ways, the X in AirAsia X is a perfect symbol depicting, in a singular, powerfully emotive letter, the x-tremely challenging context, x-citing product and x-traordinary team that's made it possible for so many to travel to see x-otic faraway destinations never dreamt possible before," he said on his online blog. "X is about extremes. Blazing new paths É X is different. X is in your face. X is an attitude, a lifestyle." AirAsia X this year expects to take delivery of three new A330s and staff have put forward Xploration, Xpedition and Xcursion as possible names for the aircraft. The airline's first two A330's were called Xuberance and Xhileration, while the plane that services the Kuala Lumpur to London route is called Xcalibur. Many aircraft spotters and enthusiasts will already know the airline's official call-sign is Xanadu. Entries can be submitted at http://blog.airasia.com/index.php/xanadu-calling-name-a-plane-and-get-your
AirAsia / Supplied ©
The AirAsia group is due to launch a new airfare war to Asia tomorrow with one-way fares expected to be just $99 or less to Bali and Kuala Lumpur.
It is understood there will be several million seats available Asia-wide for travel later this year and in 2011 to all the group's 65 destinations.
Previous sales by AirAsia have sold out in hours and the airline expects the seats to be snapped up.
After AirAsia started offering flights from Perth to Kuala Lumpur in late 2008 air travel to Kuala Lumpur leapt by 38 per cent in 2009, and is up another 34 per cent this year.
The airline started Bali services from Perth in 2009 and air travel to Bali has skyrocketed - climbing 46 per cent last year, while early figures point to another 50 per cent increase this year.
AirAsia will increase its Bali services to three times daily from June 1 and Kuala Lumpur to twice a day from August 1.
Last month, AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes promised West Australians "more flights and more bargains".
"Unlike other airlines we don't put fares up when our planes are full, we add more flights," Mr Fernandes said.
And unlike other airlines that were haemorrhaging red ink last year as passengers stayed away, AirAsia recorded a $183 million net profit with a 24 per cent growth in passengers to 22.7 million, making it the fastest-growing and most successful airline in the Asia-Pacific region.
The airline has 82 aircraft making 627 flights a day on 136 routes to 18 countries throughout Asia, Australia and India.
Those numbers are more extraordinary given that seven years ago the airline had just two aircraft and six routes and founder Mr Fernandes rarely, if ever, received an audience with regulators or politicians, let alone a cup of coffee from a banker.
Now the red carpet is there wherever he goes as airports build new terminals to accommodate his airline's expansion and politicians scramble to be seen at the airline's ever increasing occasions of ordering more aircraft or making new route announcements.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
