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View all search resultsIssue: Garuda Indonesia enters a new era
June 6, p
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J
une 6, p. 6: With a six-year flying ban to Europe finally lifted, national carrier Garuda Indonesia relaunched its Jakarta to Amsterdam direct service this week, inviting government officials, legislators, businesspeople and journalists on the voyage that marked the beginning of a new era for the airline.For captain pilot Ari Sapari, who flew the GA088 Jakarta-Amsterdam flight on June 1, the event was a proud moment. “It brought back memories of when I flew Garuda before we stopped the operation six years ago,” he said. When the Airbus A330-200 touched down at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the passengers on board applauded the flight deck for a smooth landing. Excitement turned to outright delight when two fire trucks from the local fire brigade began showering the aircraft with water — a ritual at the airport when an airline makes its maiden arrival there. (Primastuti Handayani)
Your comments:
Six years ago, a passenger called Munir who flew from Jakarta to Amsterdam on board a Garuda plane was poisoned with arsenic. Munir wanted to study law in the Netherlands, to be able to better fight injustice in his country. It was a Garuda pilot who poisoned him, with the complicity of Garuda’s then deputy director. They acted under the orders of former Kopassus (Army’s Special Forces) officers working at the State Intelligence Agency (BIN). When the plane landed in Amsterdam, Munir’s body was already cold.
Because he was a well-known human rights campaigner in Indonesia, his assassination inspired horror worldwide. Six years later, despite pledges by President-General SBY that his murderers would be tried, they all remain free except the Garuda pilot who poured arsenic into Munir’s coffee cup.
Those on this blog who praise the resumption of Garuda’s flight to the Netherlands and seem to be so happy about the event probably ignore that dark page in Garuda’s recent history. I feel this happiness is misplaced. Munir’s death is still mourned by many in Indonesia and elsewhere. Garuda’s name was sullied by Munir’s murder and so will it remain as long as its real perpetrators remain free.
Filippo Gian Carlo
Paris
Great news, now I can have a stopover in Jakarta. That’s the way I like it.
Dave
Sydney
Congratulations, chief Emirsyah Satar! Your ability to bring Garuda back on the right track is remarkable. Should Garuda decide to fly to the United States again, please consider the brand new San Bernardino International Airport in California. Garuda Indonesia will not regret it in the long run.
Guy Alo
Inland Empire, California
Such a good news, finally. Love to see it fly over the European sky!
Moko
Yogyakarta
Way to go, Garuda, I have flown a few times with Garuda and I can say that the service is on a par with any international airline. Congratulations to the Garuda team!
Salim Khan
New Delhi
It’s good to hear Garuda will fly to Europe. I hope they will fly an America route too. I have flown Garuda a number of times in Asia, always a good flight.
PSB
River Road,
Wisconsin, United States
