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GARUDA Indonesia Group, through its full-service airline Garuda Indonesia and low-cost carrier Citilink, is optimizing its production capacity to welcome the Chinese New Year 2025 and Isra Miraj long weekend period from January 24 to February 2, 2025.
This was achieved by operating 68 additional flights, with Garuda Indonesia operating 43 additional flights, including the operation of 4 wide-body aircraft. Meanwhile, Citilink added 25 additional frequencies. The additional flight frequencies were implemented in anticipation of the surge in passenger traffic expected throughout the period, especially on various popular routes.
With the additional capacity in the period from January 24 to February 2, 2025, Garuda Indonesia Group will provide at least 1.2 million flight seats, consisting of at least 889 thousand Garuda Indonesia flight seats and 373 thousand Citilink flight seats.
Garuda Indonesia expects an average flight load factor of 54 thousand passengers per day, an increase of approximately 25% compared to the previous period which recorded a load factor of 41 thousand passengers per day.
Meanwhile, Citilink is also projecting a passenger load factor of 30 thousand passengers per day, an increase of 6.3% compared to the passenger traffic outside the long weekend holiday period, which was recorded at 29 thousand passengers.
According to Garuda Indonesia President Director, Wamildan Tsani Panjaitan, said that optimizing production capacity is one of Garuda Indonesia’s efforts to support the implementation of the Asta Cita priority program, especially in promoting national tourism during the long Chinese New Year and Isra Miraj holidays.
“The peak momentum of departures during this long holiday period occurred on January 25, 2025. Meanwhile, we expect the peak of returns to occur on February 2, 2025. We estimate that passenger traffic will still be dynamic, considering that travel trends will continue until the coming weekend,” Wamildan explained through a written statement, Sunday (01/26), 2025.
Some of Garuda Indonesia’s flight routes that recorded the highest load factors include Denpasar, Surabaya, Medan and Yogyakarta for domestic routes, and Singapore and Jeddah for international routes.
“Meanwhile, several Citilink routes that recorded the highest passenger load factors include Pontianak, Bangka Belitung, Denpasar and Lombok,” Wamildan underlined.
Garuda Indonesia Group is also ensuring that various mitigation measures are intensified to support smooth flight operations during the Chinese New Year and Isra Miraj 2025 long weekend period. These mitigation measures are attempted through the implementation of comprehensive fleet inspections to ensure that aircraft are in good condition and ready to fly, flight crews are ready to serve passengers, ground services are ready and smooth, and passenger baggage is optimally maintained.
In an effort to optimize passenger comfort, Garuda Indonesia Group has also optimized the preparation of the latest flight plan data in January-February, which is carried out by the Flight Operations Officers regarding weather situations, including the anticipation of the possibility of clear air turbulence, thunderstorms and low-level wind shear on each flight route, as well as the preparation of alternative airports that can be used as landing sites in case of emergency.
“These various measures will be fully implemented without exception to ensure that flight operations and passenger services continue to run smoothly during the dynamics of the Chinese New Year and Isra Miraj long weekend,” Wamildan concluded. [sources/photo special]
