Garuda Indonesia to Start Direct Flights to Banyuwangi in August
Jakarta. Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia will commence direct flights from Jakarta to Blimbingsari Airport near Banyuwangi, East Java, in August, following in the footsteps of domestic carrier NAM Air.
Tourism Minister Arief Yahya lauded the move, saying that this is expected to increase tourist arrivals in the eastern part of Java Island.
"Banyuwangi will develop faster if we open more access," Arief said on Monday (17/07).
Based on data from the East Java Investment Agency, Banyuwangi has the third-largest investment realization in the region and various world-class tourism destinations.
"With the Jakarta-Banyuwangi route, surely tourism, business and the mobility of people will accelerate to improve the local economy," Arief added.
Garuda Indonesia director Pahala Mansury said the flights are expected to boost tourism in Banyuwangi.
"There will be direct flights between Jakarta and Banyuwangi from August; we will announce the date of the first flight later," Pahala said.
He added that Banyuwangi has great tourism potential, with more than 60,000 foreign tourists having visited the region last year.
"After Garuda, the transit point in Surabaya [East Java] can be shortened to only Jakarta," Pahala said.
The number of Garuda Indonesia flights between Surabaya and Banyuwangi have increased steadily.
"The growth in Banyuwangi is significant. Although there are two daily flights between Surabaya and Banyuwangi, the occupancy rate has reached 80 percent on average. Based on this, we are optimistic that the Jakarta-Banyuwangi route will also sell well," Pahala said.
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