Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia’s national carrier, has announced the acquisition of up to 51 additional aircraft, boosting the airline’s existing fleet revitalisation program to one of the fastest growing within Asia Pacific.

This bold move towards a modern, fuel efficient and low-maintenance fleet follows significant passenger growth from Australia and the region and includes an increase to the carrier’s primary aircraft as follows:

• Boeing 737-800NG, increased from 10 to 20 units
• A330-200 or other types of the Airbus family, increased from 6 units to 24 units
• Sub-100 type aircraft, increased from 5 to 18 units
• Boeing 777-300ER, 10 units

As a result, Garuda Indonesia will operate as many as 146 aircraft by 2015, consisting of twenty-four A330s, nine B777s, eighty-five B737-800NGs, twenty-five sub-100s, and three cargo freighters.

Garuda Indonesia’s fleet revitalisation program, approved by the company’s shareholders on Friday, is an integral part of the airlines ‘Quantum Leap’ strategy, which aims to boost the airline’s competitiveness significantly by 2015.
 
By the end of 2012, Garuda Indonesia will be operating a markedly younger fleet than other Asian carriers with aircraft aged 5.7 on average compared to the average fleet age of 16 years within Asia and 14 years within Australasia*.