Garuda will axe its London Boeing 777-300ER flights

By David Flynn, August 31 2018
Garuda will axe its London Boeing 777-300ER flights

Garuda Indonesia will pull the plug on its non-stop flights between Jakarta and London in October, as the airline looks to stem the flow of red ink across its balance sheets.

As of October 28 2018, Garuda's sole European destination will be Amsterdam, with flights operating six times a week. SkyTeam partner KLM is understood to be provide the final one-hour leg to London.

"We will work closely with our airline partners to assist our valued passengers affected by this change to ensure that we are able to rearrange their itineraries and re-accommodate them through our Amsterdam-Jakarta route or other alternative flights," Garuda Indonesia said in a statement.

Garuda currently flies its flagship Boeing 777-300ER jets between Jakarta and London just three times each week. It's understood those jets will be reassigned to the Melbourne-Bali and Jakarta-Tokyo routes

The Jakarta-London Boeing 777 service has proven to be unprofitable for the airline and was plagued with teething troubles and a series of delayed launches.

David

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

14 Jul 2011

Total posts 5

Will it be the two-class or three-class 77E that comes onto DPS-MEL?

29 Mar 2014

Total posts 78

Three class. The two remaining 77Ws with F were flying CGK LHR and DPS TYO, with LHR axed, DPS MEL and CGK TYO is possible.

sgb
sgb

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

30 Nov 2015

Total posts 729

Great news for MEL-DPS flyers.

25 Sep 2013

Total posts 1242

Was just going to say this is great news for MEL-based travellers.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

30 May 2013

Total posts 383

A 777 to Bali certainly looks like a more comfortable option the the Qantas 737...

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Oct 2017

Total posts 2

You are lucky to have a 737, Qantas does not fly Perth Bali at all.... Jetstar only.

27 Jan 2017

Total posts 5

It depends on the seats.

14 Oct 2016

Total posts 12

The first class crew last week told me (on arrival into Jakarta) that they had been told the three class would be operating to Melbourne once Heathrow stopped. I took that to mean CGK-MEL, but it could be DPS-MEL. Exceptional service, so hope that it does come this way.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

07 Dec 2015

Total posts 55

Wow, reassigning those 773 jets to MEL-DPS - there must be more premium demand that I would have thought? I would have thought anything AU-DPS would be very low yielding. And I think GA have First Class on these birds too?

DGP
DGP

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

17 Jan 2012

Total posts 172

Maybe if they had had better connections from/to Australia they could have picked up a lot more Australian traffic to London. They have a good product and great fares, so its a shame they couldn't get it right.

17 Sep 2015

Total posts 371

Yes, a contrast to Philippine Airlines that has newly refurbished A333s ex MEL to MNL and soon the A359 to LHR. Doesn't connect every day but when it does, minimal time at the MNL terminal changing planes.


Garuda has a better reputation than 15 years ago so a mystery why it couldn't make nonstops to London work.

24 Apr 2016

Total posts 23

There is just not enough demand from Jakarta to London. Their only chances is to pick up some Aussie or Kiwis to fill the B773. They don't have B789, so it would be a task for them to fill this plane up.

29 Mar 2014

Total posts 78

They dont have the demand for the 777. The 777 was always the wrong choice for Garuda, especially the 300. If it had taken either the 200ER or better, the 787, I would dare bet there would be a fledgling Garuda network to Europe and even the US West coast.

I feel sorry for Garuda given their product was allegedly very good. I'm sure once they get newer generation jets (most likely A350s) they'll be able to restart the service.

11 Apr 2014

Total posts 13

Sad to see LHR axed. From kerbside to lounge to plane and back again, one of the most enjoyable flights I've ever taken was in GA F.

But the possibility of F between MEL-DPS is definitely a silver lining!

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

06 Oct 2016

Total posts 176

I honestly can't see 40 odd J and 8 F servicing MEL-DPS... but even if they use the 2 class plane that is a great option don't they use a version of the Thompson seats? Big step up from the 737 or Jetstar options

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

16 Jan 2018

Total posts 128

I booked SYD-DPS-SYD back in May for travel in December. I really struggled to justify the j class fares on QF/VA/JQ at 2500+ for the points when GA was 1600. Normally that kind of difference as a one off isn't too bad if you are chasing points or status, but when you look at the variation in aircraft, service, seats, etc, it makes it an even bigger gap. Garuda really has a great offering and it's a shame they aren't publicised at all. No advertising in the media of any sort for the average traveller to know that they have better options than the alternate.

17 Sep 2015

Total posts 371

Is another part of the problem that these second tier carriers just don't have the agreements with Flight Centre, Helloworld, Webject and independent travel agents that the 'big boys' may?


So an uninformed consumer who lack your research skills SYDINI may walk in (or book online) and either not know about or dismiss airlines like GA.

Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles

08 Jun 2014

Total posts 262

Get a chance to fly in F with Garuda before they complete disolve the product. Very nice, not over the top but just perfect service both soft and hard.

RYS
RYS

Garuda Indonesia - Garuda Miles

30 Jan 2015

Total posts 23

Had the privilege of flying CGK-LHR in F. What an excellent experience. It's sad that they can't make this work.

27 Jan 2017

Total posts 5

Considering Garuda was banned from flying into Europe between 2007 and 2009 for its poor safety practices and record, it's no surprise that the demand for their services on this route is limited.

17 Sep 2015

Total posts 371

That's a little unfair, as like people, airlines can change. GA has passed all the necessary safety checks so we shouldn't assess it how it was in 2008.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Sep 2013

Total posts 188

Can't see it mentioned anywhere, but what will now service the AMS route - still a 777-300ER?

29 Mar 2014

Total posts 78

A two class 300ER nonstop from Jakarta to Amsterdam six times a week.

19 Feb 2016

Total posts 7

I wonder if the USA is back on their radar. Perfect plane for this. Long haul. Possible good yields.

Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles

08 Jun 2014

Total posts 262

There was a quote on FlyerTalk from a rep from Garuda, it won't happen and it's off the table...

JKH
JKH

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

23 Sep 2017

Total posts 163

Be great to have 3 class on MEL-DPS, even lie-flat J/C. Did J/C on their 2-class A330-300 not long back which would have been exceptionally good except for the old angled lie-flat seat and sliding downwards.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Sep 2013

Total posts 188

This thread has quickly become a MLB-DPS topic, with little mention of CGK-LHR, or CGK-AMS.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

28 Feb 2018

Total posts 2

Just flew Perth Bali return.

Old dirty plane both ways.
3x3 single aisle.
Advertised when made booking as 777 300.
Off plane onto cattle trucks reverse for outbound journey.
With the money spent in Bali one would think they would not treat us with such disrespect.
Maybe just maybe they will put the 777 300 onto this route as advertised.

31 Mar 2014

Total posts 398

You're thinking A330, not 777. They moved from A330 to 737 18/07/2018 according to Flightaware. I don't think Garuda has ever run 777 to Perth.

Air New Zealand - Airpoints

14 Aug 2018

Total posts 5

Time for a Jakarta - Auckland service

United Airlines - Mileage Plus

20 Dec 2013

Total posts 31

I flew MEL - CGK (A330) and CGK - LHR (B777-300) in J class in July. Connection in CGK was tight (actually they held the flight because of our late arrival from MEL. There were about 35 others with me.


I am disappointed Garuda is pulling the pin on LHR as service was top notch. Another one stop option from MEL to London bites the dust.

28 Nov 2012

Total posts 93

Only 3 days a week might have had something to do with it not being successful. A smaller aircraft more often should work ie A350 or 787.

We just returned today from MEL-DPS-MEL and we successfully bid for an upgrade and J was still only 80% full on A330. The soft product food/wine/service is AWESOME. IFE basic.

17 Sep 2015

Total posts 371

Travellers prefer a daily or better frequency.

Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles

14 Apr 2013

Total posts 325

Agreed, a daily frequency with better AUS connections would have made the route profitable. Also, Why on earth would they have only fitted 2 B777 with F and not just done a 50/50 split?

Air France - Flying Blue

10 Nov 2017

Total posts 5

Flew GA MEL-LHR-MEL in June this year in J class and very good it was too, secured an upgrade to F CGK-LHR for a bid of $365 :-) Shame LHR service is ending.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

11 Oct 2014

Total posts 691

Anyone know if GA actually owns the Heathrow slots .. or are they a sub-lease from AF/KLM ?

14 Jan 2016

Total posts 5

FWIW- Just noticed that JKT to LHR is back on when I went searching for April next year.


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