02 July 2009

EU will lift Garuda ban, says minister

JAKARTA ââ¬' The Indonesia government is hopeful that the European Union will this month lift the ban on the countryââ¬â¢s airlines flying into Europe.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told the Jakarta Post, "The EU judges that our local airlines have fulfilled 62 out of the 69 requirements to fly to the continent."

Indonesian carriers have been on the EU's blacklist for two years for safety compliance reasons.

Garuda Indonesia intends to fly to Amsterdam beginning next year with new 777s, followed by London Heathrow and Frankfurt.

Meanwhile, the government has postponed plans to sell off all or part of national carrier in an IPO, instead opting for debt restructuring.

Garudaââ¬â¢s total debts as of the end of December reached US$670 million ââ¬' $450 million to the European Credit Agency (ECA), $100 million to Bank Mandiri, and the rest to other creditors.

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