National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with České Aerolinie AS (Czech Airlines) in Prague, Czech Republic, to develop the carrier'€™s networks in Europe.

In addition to that, the MoU outlined joint marketing and promotional activities between the two airlines, trainings, as well as collaboration in the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) businesses.

The agreement was signed by Garuda president director M. Arif Wibowo and Czech Airlines chairman Josef Sincak on Monday.

'€œThis commercial agreement is going to enhance the networks of both airlines, thus providing better air connectivity to passengers especially between Indonesia and Czech,'€ Arif said on Friday.

He said that customers of Czech Airlines would be connected to 70 routes that Garuda currently serves across the country, Asia, the Middle East and Amsterdam, while Garuda passengers could make connections to more than 45 destinations in Europe and Africa with Czech Airlines.

'€œThis collaboration is also aimed at supporting the bilateral relations between Jakarta and Prague. Czech is one of the countries in Eastern Europe that enjoys a healthy economy and Garuda is committed to helping increase economic activities between the two countries,'€ he added.

Both carriers are currently members of SkyTeam, a global alliance of 20 airlines that links 1,052 destinations in 177 countries worldwide.