Garuda set for UK return
An overhaul of the airline staff’s business and service mentality, together with financial and operational restructuring, has seen the airline return to profit and pay down debt under CEO Emirsyah Satar, who joined Garuda as finance chief in 1998.
In an interview with the International Herald Tribune, Satar said, “When I came in, no audit had been done for three years. The company was running on negative cash flow – it was funding itself by issuing debt.
“The first thing we had to do was to get out of the state of denial.
“And we had to remind ourselves that we are not a transportation company but a travel company – that means the customer comes first.”
Satar said he is confident he can prepare the company for an IPO next year.
Garuda recently received approval from the European Union to resume services to Europe.
It had been among several Indonesian airlines banned from flying to Europe because of safety concerns which focused on the Indonesia’s aviation watchdog and its failure to oversee airline safety standards in line with EU requirements.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive