Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia Strengthen Cooperation on Flights

Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia announced intentions to enter into a joint venture (JV) to deepen their cooperation on routes between Singapore and Indonesia.

According to their announcement, the JV would cover routes between Singapore and three Indonesian cities, namely Denpasar, Jakarta, and Surabaya. The venture would expand on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the two Southeast Asia-based airlines signed in November 2021.

“It would allow Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines to potentially coordinate schedules between Singapore and Indonesia, offering customers more seamless flight connectivity between the two countries and beyond,” was outlined in the statement. The JV could potentially expand further, covering joint fare products and an alignment of corporate programs to “enhance the value proposition to customers”.

Furthermore, the MoU that Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia signed in November 2021 included plans to align the two airlines’ frequent flyer programs, joint marketing activities, and initiatives to promote inbound tourism into Indonesia in the future. The pair are also looking to explore opportunities to collaborate in air cargo as well as Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) activities.

The carriers’ partnership is still subject to regulatory approval.

“This joint venture will be a win-win arrangement that elevates the long-standing partnership between Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines,” said Goh Choon Phong, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Singapore Airlines. “Our customers will also enjoy even more benefits, including an improved level of network connectivity, enhanced travel convenience, and additional fare options,” added Phong.

Meanwhile, the President and CEO of Garuda Indonesia, Irfan Setiaputra added that with Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia collaboration going back more than a decade, the JV acts as a “further milestone of the partnership expansion initiative”.

“[…] will certainly strengthen the commitment between the two carriers simultaneously, delivering a seamless and valuable flying experience to both our customers across the globe,” concluded Setiaputra.