Learn about the history, culture, and achievements of Garuda Indonesia
Presenting a new level of service excellence in air travel, Garuda Indonesia, the national flag carrier of Indonesia, seamlessly connects more than 90 destinations worldwide to not only one of the largest economies in Southeast Asia, but also an array of exotic destinations in the beautiful archipelago of Indonesia all at once. With more than 600 daily flights, Garuda Indonesia proudly serves its passengers with the award-winning "Garuda Indonesia Experience" service, which highlights the warm Indonesian Hospitality and rich diverse culture.Garuda Indonesia group currently operates 202 aircraft with an average age less than five years. This amount is accommodated by Garuda Indonesia as a main brand with a total of 144 aircraft, and Citilink as a Low Cost Carrier Airline which operates 58 fleet aircraft.
The airline continuously strives through its ongoing transformation program to provide better and even more convenient services. The achievement of Garuda Indonesia’s transformation program can be seen from global recognition a Skytrax’s 5-star airline rating since 2014, ranked as Top 10 Worlds Best airline in the world, as well as winning the prestigious “The World’s Best Cabin Crew” award fpr five consecutive years from 2014.
To complement the Skytrax Awards, Garuda Indonesia also awarded the "5-Stars Airline" recognition from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX), a non-profit association for enhanced passenger flight experience based in New York, USA. Garuda Indonesia GIAA
Garuda Indonesia, the New Era of Commercial Flight in Indonesia
The First Commercial Flight in Indonesia
The first commercial flight in Indonesia was first created by
Indonesian Air Force (AURI) by renting out planes called “Indonesian
Airways” to Burma’s government in January 26th, 1949. “Indonesian
Airways” role ended in Round Table Conferences on 1949. All cabin crew
and the airplanes themselves returned to Indonesia in 1950. When they
arrived in Indonesia, all planes were officially returned to AURI in Air
Force Service formation.
The Beginning of Indonesia’s National Airline
With the wrap up on Round Table Conferences in 1949, Netherlands was
required to give all Dutch East Indies wealth and resources to United
States of Indonesia, including KLM-IIB (Koninklijke Luchtvaart
Maatschappij- Inter-Insulair Bedrijf) Airline. KLM-IIB is one of the
subsidiaries from KLM after taking over privately-owned K.N.I.L.M
(Koninklijke Nederlandshindische Luchtvaart Maatschappij) that had
existed since 1928 in Dutch East Indies area.
The Birth of Garuda Indonesian Airways (GIA)
On December 21th, 1949 there was a further discussion from Round
Table Conference result between the Indonesian government and KLM
airline about a national airline. President Soekarno decided and chose
“Garuda Indonesian Airways” (GIA) as the name of this new airline.
In preparation of Indonesian air staff, KLM allowed their staff to
keep on doing their duty and train the new staff from Indonesia. On this
transition period, the first ever CEO of GIA was from the Netherlands,
Dr. E. Konijneburg. The first fleet of GIA was inherited from KLM-IIB
and not from “Indonesian Airways” that was owned by AURI.
The First Flight of Garuda Indonesia Airways (GIA)
One day after the Netherlands acknowledged the sovereignty of
Indonesian Republic on December 28th, 1949, two airplanes Dakota (DC-3)
flew from Kemayoran airport, from Jakarta to Yogyakarta to pick up
Soekarno. This event also signified the return of the capital of
Indonesia to Jakarta. From then on, GIA kept on expanding until it is
now known as Garuda Indonesia.
Then, in a year later, in 1950, Garuda Indonesia officially became a
state owned company. During that period, the company operated a fleet of
38 aircrafts comprising 22 DC-3, 8 Catalina flying boats, and 8 Convair
240. Garuda Indonesia’s fleet continued to grow, and eventually made
its first flight to mecca carrying Indonesian hajj pilgrims in 1956. In
1965, the first flight to European countries started was made with
Amsterdam as the final destination.
1980s
In Addition the Company also built an Aircraft Maintenance Center at
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Then in the early 1990s, Garuda
Indonesia developed a long-term growth strategy which was applied until
the year 2000. The Company also continued to expand its fleet placing
Garuda Indonesia among the 30 largest airlines of the world.
2000s
Along with initiatives in business development in 2005, a new
management team took office and formulated new plans for the future of
the company. The new management undertook a comprehensive re-evaluation
and overall restructuring with the objective improving operational
efficiency, regained financial stability that involved efforts in debt
restructuring, increased awareness among employees concerning the
importance of service to customers and, most importantly, revived and
revitalized the Garuda Indonesia spirit.
2010s
The successful completion of the company’s debt restructuring program
opened the way for Garuda Indonesia to go public on 11th February 2011.
The company officially became a public company after the initial public
offering of 6,335,738,000 shares. The company’s shares were listed on
the Indonesia Stock Exchange on February 11, 2011 with code GIAA. This
was one important milestone after the company completed the
transformation on its business through hard work and dedication of all
parties.
2017
Presenting a new level of service excellence in air travel, Garuda
Indonesia, the national airline of Indonesia, seamlessly connects 83
destinations worldwide, including exotic locations in the beautiful
archipelago of Indonesia all at once.
With more than 600 daily flights and a fleet of 196 aircrafts by
January 2017, Garuda Indonesia proudly serves its passengers with the
award-winning distinct service “Garuda Indonesia Experience”, which
highlights Indonesia’s warm hospitality and rich diverse culture.
To provide better and more convenient services, Garuda Indonesia
continuously strives through its ongoing transformation program. The
progress of the transformation can be seen from the achievement of a
Skytrax’s 5-star Airline rating as well as the winning of the
prestigious “The World’s Best Cabin Crew” for four consecutive years in
2014 to 2017, “The World’s Most Loved Airline 2016” and “Best Economy
Class” award in 2013, also from Skytrax. Garuda Indonesia GIAA
Vision
Value-Driven Aviation Group, Bringing Indonesian Hospitality to the World (US$3.5 Billion)
Mission
- Shareholder : Maximize group value for better shareholder return among regional airlines,
- Customer : by delivering excellent Indonesian hospitality and world best experiences to customers,
- Process : while implementing cost leadership & synergy within group,
- Employee : and by engaging passionate & proud employee in one of the most admired company to work for in Indonesia. Garuda Indonesia GIAA
The concept of Indonesian hospitality is applied into several icons to delight the five senses
Garuda Indonesia Experience is a new concept of service designed
to allow passengers to experience Indonesia at its best. From the
moment they make flight reservation until their arrival at the
destination, passengers of Garuda Indonesia are pampered with a
sincere and friendly service, the epitome of Indonesian hospitality,
as symbolized in our new standard greetings, ‘Salam Garuda
Indonesia’.
By introducing the concept of Garuda Indonesia Experience, Garuda
Indonesia is creating a special brand identity for the company and at
the same time promoting Indonesia in the international level. The
concept of Garuda Indonesia Experience is based on “5 senses” (sight,
sound, scent, taste, and touch) which includes 24 “customer touch
points”, from pre-journey, pre-flight, in-flight, post flight and post
journey services.
Since it was first launched in 2009, Garuda Indonesia Experience
has been relying on Indonesian hospitality as its main base. This is
in line with the vision of Garuda Indonesia, to become a reliable
airline which is offering high quality services to people around the
world with Indonesian hospitality in its core. Garuda Indonesia has a
special mission, as the flag carrier of Indonesia which promotes
Indonesia to the international society. The concept of Indonesian
hospitality is applied into several icons designed to delight the five
senses. We can see it on the unique Indonesian materials and
ornaments used for the interior of the aircraft, the exotic scent of
Indonesian flowers, the sound of Indonesian indigenous folk music and
the taste of Indonesian traditional food and beverage. During 2009,
the company carried out refurbishment program for its old fleet,
Boeing 747-400 and Airbus 330-300, by changing the design interior of
the aircrafts and adding Audio Video On Demand (AVOD) facilities.
These steps are in line with the concept of Garuda Indonesia
Experience.
Apart from involving the five senses, the concept of Garuda
Indonesia Experience should also includes these basic values: on-time
and safe (for product), prompt and precise (for process), clean and
comfortable (for premises) and reliable, professional, competent and
helpful (for staff). The concept has been widely accepted by the
customers of Garuda Indonesia. Garuda Indonesia GIAA
