Minister vows to sanction Garuda over cancellations

State Minister for State Enterprises Mustafa Abubakar has said he will sanction national airline PT Garuda Indonesia in response to the carrier’s move to cancel scores of flights due to errors in its new IT system.

"Garuda management will report the results of their investigation [into the error to us]. We will impose a sanction based on the results," Mustafa told reporters in Jakarta on Monday night.

He said he understood that the new system had glitches, but urged the company to resolve the problem swiftly.

Mustafa said the error might affect the airline’s plan to launch an initial public offering next year.

"Indeed, it will influence the IPO plan – that is why I ask the company to not repeat the same mistake.”