Garuda Indonesia’s history spans nearly a century, marked by numerous milestones and challenges. Despite facing ups and downs over the years, the airline has emerged as one of the world’s top carriers.
Ready for takeoff? Let’s depart into the world of this Indonesian airline. In no particular, here are 20 facts you need to know about Garuda Indonesia, covering topics such as its history and current operations.
Garuda Indonesia Facts
1. The airline’s origins trace back to the 1920s
Garuda Indonesia’s roots trace back to KNILM, the Royal Dutch Indies Airways, founded in 1928 during the Dutch colonial period. After KNILM was dissolved in 1947, its assets were transferred to KLM Interinsulair Bedrijf (KLM-IIB), a subsidiary of KLM.
As Indonesia moved toward independence, the demand for a national airline grew. On December 28, 1949, soon after Indonesia was officially recognized as an independent country, Garuda Indonesia was established, initially known as Garuda Indonesian Airways.
The name “Garuda” is derived from the mythical bird in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, symbolizing strength and loyalty.
2. Commencing operations in the 1940s
According to the airline’s official website, On December 28, 1949, the day after the Netherlands officially recognized the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia, two Dakota DC-3 aircraft departed from the now-defunct Kemayoran Airport in Jakarta, heading for Yogyakarta to transport then-President Soekarno back to Jakarta.
From that pivotal moment, Garuda Indonesian Airways began its journey to becoming known as Garuda Indonesia.
3. National flag carrier
Since beginning its journey as Garuda Indonesia, the airline has been the national flag carrier of the Republic of Indonesia.
The airline has been pivotal in connecting Indonesia to the rest of the world.
4. Financial and operational difficulties
From the late 1990s, Garuda Indonesia faced significant challenges, including two major crashes and the impact of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
Indonesia’s tourism industry also struggled in the early 2000s, following the 2002 Bali bombings and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
Additionally, in 2004, human rights activist Munir Said Thalib was assassinated by off-duty pilot Pollycarpus Priyanto on a Garuda Indonesia flight.
5. European flight ban
Between 2007 and 2009, Garuda Indonesia and all other Indonesian airlines were banned from operating flights to Europe.
The sanction was handed out following the crash of a Garuda Indonesia flight from Jakarta to Yogyakarta in 2007. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-400, overshot the runway and burst into flames in Yogyakarta. Notably, the incident recorded the sixth loss of an aircraft in Indonesia in the space of a few months.
The ban was lifted in 2009 once the European Union was satisfied that all its aviation safety standards were met.
6. Garuda Indonesia’s five-year modernization plan
After the EU lifted its ban, Garuda Indonesia announced a five-year expansion plan known as the Quantum Leap.
The airline ultimately wanted to change its image, making sweeping changes across the board, including introducing a new logo and increasing the size of its fleet with new aircraft.
Additionally, Garuda Indonesia wanted to attract more passengers and enhance its route network.
7. Recognition as a five-star airline
The overhaul eventually paid off in 2014 as Garuda Indonesia was certified as a 5-star airline by Skytrax, The international air transport rating organisation.
The airline has managed to maintain that rating as of September 2024.
8. Controversies under Ari Askhara’s leadership
In December 2019, the former chief executive of Garuda Indonesia, Ari Askhara, was fired by the airline for failing to declare the importation of a Harley Davidson and two folding bikes.
It later came to light that employees at Garuda Indonesia had experienced sexual harassment and coercion into prostitution under Ari’s leadership. Additionally, staff faced new policies that included unexplained transfers, increased flight hours, and discriminatory practices between employees.
In June 2021, Askhara was sent to prison for smuggling the Harley Davidson and folding bikes into Indonesia.
9. Corruption
Askhara was not the only former Garuda Indonesia boss to be jailed, as Emirsyah Satar, Garuda’s CEO between 2005 and 2014, was sentenced for corruption. The corruption involved the purchasing of CRJ-1000 and ATR72-600 aircraft while leading the airline.
Satar was jailed for five years and fined Rp500 million.
10. Owned by two entities
As of September 2024, Garuda Indonesia is owned by the Indonesian government (60.54%) and CT Corp’s PT Trans Airways (28.27%).
CT Corp is owned by billionaire Indonesian businessman Chairul Tanjung.
Also discover:
- 10 Fun Facts About AirAsia
- 20 Facts You Should Know About Etihad Airways
- 15 Notable Facts About Qatar Airways You Need to Know
- 20 Key Facts About Cathay Pacific
11. Garuda Indonesia’s main hub
Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, which serves the Jakarta metropolitan area, is the home of Garuda Indonesia.
The airport first opened in May 1985 and is based in Tangerang, Banten.
12. The carrier’s headquarters
According to Garuda Indonesia, its head office is based at PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. Management Building, Garuda City, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang 15111, Indonesia, PO BOX 1004 TNG BUSH.
13. The airline has two secondary hubs
In addition to Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, the airline also has hubs at Ngurah Rai International Airport on the island of Bali and Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
Meanwhile, Juanda International Airport, which serves the Surabaya metropolitan area, is a focus city for the carrier.
14. Member of an airline alliance
As of September 2024, Garuda Indonesia is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, along with carriers such as Air France, Delta Air Lines, and KLM.
The airline first joined the alliance in March 2014.
15. Garuda Indonesia’s subsidiaries
The airline has various subsidiaries, including Citilink.
Citilink is a low-cost carrier based in Indonesia and was initially founded by Garuda Indonesia in July 2001.
16. The airline’s fleet
According to Air Fleets, Garuda Indonesia has 60 active aircraft in its fleet.
The fleet includes aircraft such as the Airbus A330-200, Airbus A330-300, Airbus A330-900, Boeing 737-800, and Boeing 777-300.
17. The carrier serves over 50 destinations
Garuda Indonesia operates flights to numerous destinations from its hubs in Tangerang, Bali, and Makassar, as well as its focus city airport serving Surabaya.
Notable international destinations include Doha, Kuala Lumpur, and Sydney.
18. Garuda Indonesia has a frequent flyer program
GarudaMiles is Garuda Indonesia’s frequent flyer program.
This loyalty program allows members to earn miles when flying with Garuda Indonesia or its partner airlines, which can be redeemed for flight tickets and seat upgrades.
Members can also achieve status, progressing through levels like GarudaMiles Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
19. Partnerships and codeshare agreements
As of September 2024, Garuda Indonesia has partnerships and codeshare agreements in place with fellow members of the SkyTeam, as well as All Nippon Airways (ANA), Bangkok Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Philippine Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.
20. Safety record
Garuda Indonesia has faced significant scrutiny over its safety record, with several fatal incidents and accidents occurring throughout its history.
However, the airline has made considerable efforts to improve its safety protocols in recent years, with its most recent fatal incident occurring in 2007, when one of its aircraft overran the runway in Yogyakarta, killing 21 people.
This article was updated on October 9, 2024.
If you enjoyed this article about Garuda Indonesia, feel free to share it on social media. You can also follow us on X and Facebook.
