Garuda Indonesia was due to place its first ATR 72-600 into service on Tuesday, a day after the aircraft presented to guests and media during a flight to various destinations across Indonesia to which the aircraft will operate to.
The airline has 25 ATR 72-600s on order, and initially plans to operate them on flights from Bali to Labuan Bajo and Ende, and from Bali to Bima and Mataram.
“Today’s flight is a major milestone in our policy of expanding regional connectivity across our country. The introduction of our new modern regional ATR turboprop aircraft represents a big step beyond of our ‘Quantum Leap 2011-2015’ transformation and expansion program, which aims to specially strengthen our domestic service”. Garuda CEO Emirsyah Satar said of Monday’s familiarisation flight. “This ATR 72-600 with ‘Explore’ branding will increase the connectivity between new tourism and new economic growth destinations in remote areas as well as to explore the richness and diversity of Indonesia.”
