KLM ROYAL Dutch Airlines and Garuda Indonesia have strengthened their long-established commercial co-operation with a new agreement signed in Jakarta on 23 August, following the conclusion of talks between Garuda's president Soepandi and Pieter Bouw, president of the Dutch carrier. Bouw was in Indonesia as part of a Dutch trade delegation.
The agreement comes into action at the start of KLM's winter schedule and involves the expansion of some joint activities, including the operation of all flights between the two countries under a joint flight prefix; reservation of seats on each others' connecting services; co-operation on regional flights serving Denpasar (Bali), Surabaya and Medan; and a cabin crew management exchange programme from September to provide familiarisation of the respective inflight services.
The airlines have collaborated for several years in fleet maintenance, engine and aircraft-component pooling, storage and supply of aircraft parts, personnel training, automation projects and cargo transportation. Since 4 July, a joint Boeing 747 freighter service has been operated between Amsterdam and Jakarta.
Source: Flight International
