Garuda Indonesia (GA, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) intends to delay the delivery of new aircraft in a bid to ease financial pressure brought on by worsening losses. Amid losses totalling USD211million for the first half of the Indonesian national carrier's current financial year, Garuda CEO Emirsyah Satar also disclosed that his airline is also considering mothballing some of its older, less fuel efficient, aircraft as part of cost cutting measures.
“In 2014, Garuda ordered 27 new aircraft to support its network. In 2013 we brought in 24 new aircraft and in 2012 we had a total of 22 new aircraft,” Satar told The Jakarta Times in an interview. “These aircraft were bought to expand our flight networks, both internationally and domestically, which was also aimed at increasing the country’s connectivity, as well as the economy in remote areas.”
According to the ch-aviation aircraft database, the more elderly aircraft in Garuda's fleet currently constitute B737-300s, B737-500s, B747-400s and A330-300s.
Garuda blamed its poor financial performance on jet fuel price volatility, a sliding Indonesian Rupiah and difficult interest rates.
