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Garuda Indonesia's Kartini Flight features all-female pilots, cabin crew, groundcrew
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Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti and captain Ida Fiqriah clasp hands before the Kartini Flight on Saturday, April 21. (Garuda Indonesia/File)
Garuda Indonesia held a special Kartini Flight to celebrate Kartini Day on April 21.
The GA 204 Kartini Flight that departed from Jakarta to Yogyakarta featured pilots, cabin crew and ground crew who were all female employees of Garuda Indonesia. Among them were captain Ida Fiqriah, who is the carrier’s first ever female pilot, co-pilot Melinda, flight service manager Evi Soenarjono and aircraft release engineers Pita Hadi Sriwahyuni and Dessy Purnamasari.
According to a press release, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti was among the passengers on the flight, alongside two of the national flag carrier’s female executives, General and Human Resources director Sari Suharso and Domestic Marketing director Nina Sulistyowati, as well as several other senior managers of state-owned enterprises.
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“Garuda Indonesia deserves praise for arranging this special flight. The involvement of female pilots, cabin crew and ground crew is proof that women can work amid technological advancements and career dynamic challenges,” said Susi prior to takeoff.
Nina said the company expects to make the Kartini Flight an annual event, which celebrates RA Kartini, a national hero and a source of inspiration for Indonesian women.
The company has over 4,500 female employees, from ground crew, aircraft technicians to co-pilot and captains. Twenty-nine of the airline’s pilots are women.
To celebrate Kartini Day, Garuda Indonesia is offering a series of promotions for female customers, including up to a 21 percent discount on tickets, a 2,100 air miles bonus and free access to Garuda lounges in Jakarta, Medan and Balikpapan throughout April. (kes)
