(9/29/2007)
Despite the current blacklisting of all Indonesian registered commercial aircraft from European airspace by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Indonesian national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia appears adamant in its desire to resume service to Europe, planning to recommence service to Amsterdam in 2008.
The President Director of Garuda, Emirsyah Satar told Bisnis Indonesia that his airline continues to study the viability of an Amsterdam service.
Speaking to the press at the PATA Travel Mart in Bali, Emirsyah said that Garuda is also exploring adding a new destination in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Garuda and national aviation authorities continue to lobby European Union authorities to lift the current blacklisting of Indonesian aircraft, pointing to the airline's ability to meet the stringent requirements aviation regimes in Australia, Japan and China all served by the Airline.
The current blacklisting by the EU is scheduled for an automatic review in October 2007.
Should current plans to resume service to Europe materialize, Garuda will face the additional challenge of earning the trust of major European travel wholesalers, many of whom felt they were left in the lurch by Garuda's sudden withdrawal from Amsterdam in November 2004.
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