Garuda Targets Minor Hajj Pilgrims For News Planes

Jakarta, April 22 (Antara) - Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is targeting minor hajj pilgrims in operating two new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, a Garuda executive said. "Garuda will operate two new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to serve minor hajj pilgrims who want to conduct pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The two airplanes will arrive in June and will serve the Jakarta-Jidda route," Garuda Vice President for Corporate Communications Pujobroto said here on Monday. He said that the operation of the two new Boeing 777-300ER airplanes was part of Garuda`s effort to increase its services to passengers, particularly umroh (minor) hajj pilgrims. Pujobroto said the new airplanes would begin serving the Jakarta-Jidda route in July 2013. The planes will have a first class service to provide convenience for passengers. The planes, he said, have a capacity of 314 seats. Of the total seats, eight seats for first class, 38 for business class and 268 for economy class. He said that following the arrivals of the two in June, the second batch of two same aircraft type would also arrive at the end of the year. They will serve the Sydney-Jakarta-London route. In 2013, Garuda purchases 24 777-ERs, three Airbus A330s, 10 Boeing 737-800NGs and seven Bombardier CRJ1000 NextGen planes. Pujobroto said that based on its Quantum Leap 2011-2015 program, Garuda in 2015 will operate 194 airplanes with the average age of below five years. At present, Garuda is operating 106 aircraft with an average age of 5.8 years old. In the meantime, Garuda President Director Emirsyah Satar said that Garuda Indonesia is procuring the two new Boeing 777-300ERs through leasing based on a shariah financing scheme from Kuwaiti company Alafco Aviation Lease and Finance Company. "This is the first shariah-based financing scheme taken by Garuda," he said at the signing of a cooperation agreement between Garuda and Alafco at Soekarno-Hatta airport here on Monday. Emirsyah said this was a "milestone" in Garuda`s efforts in exploring possible other financing sources. He said the shariah financing scheme was also a breakthrough to deal with large flows of funds from the Middle East. He said the shariah-based financing based on the concept of "ijarah" was worth around US$315 million for one airplane. "The funds from the Middle East have mostly been channeled through a shariah scheme," he said. Emirsyah said the financing was in line with the growth of Garuda passengers which was recorded up by around 20 percent in 2012. He said the cooperation was also in line with the company`s long-term program put in the Quantum Leap 2011-2015. Alafco chairman Ahmad Alzabin meanwhile said the company was honored to be able to cooperate with Garuda. "The signing of the agreement for two Boeing 777-300ER is the first transaction his company made in Indonesia," he said. He hoped the cooperation would continue in line with Garuda`s future growth plans.