GARUDA TO USE AIRBUS TO SERVE BEIJING-JAKARTA ROUTE

Beijing, May 31 (ANTARA) - Garuda Indonesia plans to use an Airbus plane to serve the Beijing-Jakarta route starting early next year as part of efforts to provide better services to passengers.

The plan to use an Airbus plane was aimed at anticipating fierce competition among airline companies which had switched to large-bodied planes to serve the route, Beijing-based Garuda General Manager Sentot Mujiono said here on Sunday.

"Amidst the fierce competition we hope that the use of a large-bodied plane starting early next year will encourage more and more people to choose Garuda for Beijing-Jakarta flights," he said.

Garuda has so far used a Boeing 737 NG plane to serve the route.

Sentot said he was optimistic that the national flag carrier would be able to compete with foreign airline companies and attract as many passengers as possible.

Asked to comment on a complaint that Garuda offered higher fares than other airline companies, he said the complaint was unfounded now that Garuda passengers got all kinds of comfort during flights.

Among the comfort was that Garuda left Beijing in the morning and arrived in Jakarta in the evening, he said.

"The departure and arrival time actually benefits passengers because they arrive at the airport of destination before night. In addition, our cabin services are not inferior to those of foreign airline companies," he said.

At present Garuda flies from Beijing to Jakarta on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and from Jakarta to Beijing on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using a Boeing 737 plane of new generation.