Garuda Indonesia Plans Return to Europe

Garuda Indonesia plans to launch a service on the Jakarta-Dubai-Amsterdam Schiphol route on 1 June next year, marking its long-awaited return to Europe.

The carrier will operate Airbus A330-200s on the route, says Garuda.
Garuda formerly flew to Amsterdam Schiphol and other points in Europe using McDonnell Douglas DC-10s, but it ceased flights in 2004 as part of broader cost cutting measures. The airline has said longer-term it hopes to have non-stop services to Amsterdam and other points in Europe using the Boeing 777s it has on order.

The airline's return to Europe is significant because in 2007 the EU banned all Indonesian carriers over safety concerns. But this year the EU lifted the ban against Garuda, Mandala Airlines, Airfast Indonesia and Premiair.

(Greg Waldron - FlightGlobal.com)