Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia announced on Tuesday that it would use Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi’s small Xpander MPV vehicles for its aircrew transportation in Greater Jakarta in addition to its other leased brand vehicles.

Garuda Indonesia president director I Gusti Ngurah Askhara Danadiputra said the company had leased 401 Xpander vehicles, not just because of the vehicle’s safety performance, but also for price reasons.

"We believe the new fleet will comfortably transport our pilots and cabin crew before and after their flight duties," Askhara told reporters during a handover ceremony at Terminal 3 of Soekarno Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten.

PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Sales Indonesia (MMKSI) president director Naoya Nakamura said the company was proud to fulfill the airline’s transportation needs.

"This cooperation is the biggest fleet business of our current flagship small MPV. We will continue to expand this type of cooperation," Naoya said.

According to MMKSI, more than 115,000 Xpander cars had been ordered on the retail market since its launch in August last year, securing a 30 percent market share. (das/bbn)