Garuda Indonesia Introduces First Class in New Boeing 777-300ER

Indonesian flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia received its first Boeing 777-300ER (Aircraft Registration PK-GIA) on 2 July 2013 introducing their “FIRST CLASS” service as part of the airline’s fleet expansion programme to increase its capacity and broaden its international network and the Quatum Leap 2011-2015 programme.  This aircraft will serve the Jakarta – Jeddah route from 9 July 2013 in response to the huge passenger volume from Jakarta to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj peak period and Umrah religious pilgrimages.

GA980 departs on Tuesday to Saturdays from Jakarta (CGK) at 11am and arrives in Jeddah (JED) at 4.50pm.  GA 981 departs on Tuesdays to Saturdays from Jeddah at 6.50pm and arrives in Jakarta at 8.15am the next day.

The Introduction of First Class

Garuda Indonesia’s Boeing 777-300ER also premieres, for the very first time for the airline, a First Class cabin featuring eight suites with 82in seat pitch and 22in seat width which can be converted into a fully-flat bed with mattress.

Customers flying on First Class will be able to enjoy its Chef on Board service where they can choose for a selection of meals including Indonesian regional festival degustation, Japanese Kaiseki, or European ala carte prepared by a dedicated chef on board.

Other in-flight benefits for First class passengers include 23.5 inch personal touch screens displaying audio video on demand in-flight entertainment, in seat power for your laptops and gadgets, in-flight connectivity (GSM and WiFi) including complimentary WiFi access and specially tailored luxurious amenities. (We’re curious what amenity kits Garuda Indonesia would be giving out to its First Class passengers).

On the ground, First Class Passengers will receive special assistance upon departure and arrival through the airline’s pre-flight concierge service and dedicated first class contact centre agents, personal assistants and butler, limo pick up service as well as access to the airline’s new First Class lounge at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) as well as at lounges of airline partners worldwide.

The aircraft can carry up to 314 passengers with eight in First Class, 38 in Business Class and 268 in Economy Class. First & Business class has a seat configuration of 1-2-1 and 3-3-3 in Economy.

New Service Concept

Garuda Indonesia now offers improved Executive Class and Economy Class service with the new aircraft.   Service design on the three classes is based on the characteristics of each class.  First Class is intimate, authentic and engaging. Executive Class service is more energetic, authentic and dynamic while Economy class service is dynamic, positive and warm.

Garuda Indonesia was recently named “The World’s Best Economy Seats” by Skytrax during the Paris Air Show 2013 last month and was also ranked eighth place in “The World’s Top 10 Airlines”.

Garuda Indonesia expects to receive the next two Boeing 777-300ER later this year and will serve the Sydney – Jakarta – London route from November 2013. Three more will be delivered in 2014 and another three in 2015.  In 2013, the airline is expecting 24 new aircraft which includes four Boeing 777-300ER, three Airbus A330, ten Boeing 737-800NG and seven Bombaridier CRJ1000 NextGen.  Garuda Indonesia currently operates 112 aircraft with an average age of 5.8 years consisting of the A330-200/300 to serve international flights to Australia, Europe, China, Korea and Japan,  B737-800NG to serve domestic and regional flights and the Bombardia CRJ1000 NextGen which serves short-haul flights from its hubs in Makassar and Medan.

Check out our review of the luxurious amenity kits given to First Class passengers on board.