INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - The national airline of PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) is optimistic to be able to increase the utility and seat fittings for the types of ATR 72-600 and CRJ1000 NextGen through Eco Basic program.

Garuda Indonesia Domestic Trade Director Nina Sulistyowati said the main objective of the additional program for the economy class is to improve aircraft utility and seat load factor (SLF). There are 22 roundtrip routes that have the type of Eco Basic promo using aircraft type ATR 72-600 and CRJ1000 NextGen.

"Benefit for the company is to get new markets, fill seat capacity, and increase aircraft utility," said Nina.

He mentioned, SLF for the routes included in the Eco Basic still leaves an average room as much as 20%. In fact, the operational costs incurred for each flight with all seats full or not, will be the same.

It will review the Eco Basic services within the next two to four weeks to find out the positive impact of the new program. The program was first launched in Ujung Pandang on 21 May 2018 and will be socialized again in Medan on May 30, 2018.

The number of Eco Basic tickets sold for only 12 seats for each flight route. Nevertheless, tariffs sold remain in full service airline corridors (FSAs) and do not violate the lower limit tariff regulations (TBB).

Nina mentions there are some services that are reduced in this type of promo, including no additional baggage capacity facility to carry sports equipment. The weight of the sport equipment carried will deduct the carrying capacity of the recorded baggage.

In addition, passengers can only check-in via check-in counter at the airport, not via web, mobile, city, kiosk, or phone check-in. Passengers also can not select the desired seat before or during check-in.

It claimed to have set the terms, prices, and routes in such a way so as not to collide with the market share of its subsidiary, Citilink Indonesia. Airlines that have a dominant green color offer a cheaper price with minimum service type (no frills).

Previously, President Director of Garuda Indonesia Pahala N. Mansury said the utility of ATR and CRJ aircraft only reached about 5 hours. As for the entire single-pedestrian plane (narrow body) owned, the utility last year reached 9 hours 11 minutes.