3 expat women who practiced prostitution in a hotel arrested in Riyadh    Tunisian president and Saudi interior minister discuss security cooperation    Saudi, US defense ministers discuss over phone ways to enhance strategic cooperation    Grand Mufti expresses pride over Saudi Arabia's firm position on Palestine issue    Saudi Arabia's inflation records slight rise reaching 2% in January 2025    Electromin celebrates victory of "Nissan Formula E Team" in "Jeddah E-Prix" as first Saudi private-sector global partner in Formula E    Saudi Arabia vows full support to Lebanon's actions to safeguard citizens' security    US-made heavy bombs arrive in Israel after Biden-era hold    Death toll from New Delhi railway station stampede rises to 18    US, Russia to begin Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia    Al Ittihad CEO calls for fairness as Al Hilal raises officiating concerns ahead of Saudi Classico    LG Electronics Saudi Arabia and Shaker Group mark 30 years of sustainable innovation in HVAC solutions    Benzema shines with goal and two assists as Al Ittihad dominate Al Wehda French star leads Al Ittihad to 4-1 victory, extending lead over Al Hilal ahead of top-of-the-table clash    Saudi Arabia among world's top 10 energy storage markets    Al Hilal held to controversial 1-1 draw against Al Riyadh, missing chance to reclaim top spot    Al Hilal accuses SPL's Michael Emenalo of bias and SFF's Manuel Navarro of pressuring team to accept local referees Club criticizes officiating, calls for elite foreign referees in Saudi Pro League    Maya Diab joins Arab stars and celebrities in celebrating the Centrepoint Ramadan 2025 collection launch at Riyadh Boulevard    Oilatum tackles rise in Eczema and Dry Skin in Saudi Arabia    HONOR brings together AI and luxury with PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic7 RSR at LEAP 2025    Chinese film stirs national pride, rakes in $1bn in days    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Garuda Indonesia joins club of five-star airlines
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 29 - 01 - 2015

Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted (right) presents the five-star certificate to Garuda President and CEO Arif Wibowo in Jakarta on Tuesday, as Indonesia's Minister of Transportation Ignasius Jonan (2nd left) and the company's President Commissioner (chairman of the board of directors) Jusman Syafii Djamal (C) look on. — SG photo
Ebrahim M. Kodi
Saudi Gazette
JAKARTA — Garuda Indonesia on Tuesday became the newest member of the world's exclusive group of five-star airlines.
Indonesia's national flag carrier was accredited as a five-star airline, the world's highest quality ranking standard for a commercial airline, by the UK-based Skytrax, which is a leading authority that reviews airlines and airports globally.
Only six other airlines — Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Japan's All Nippon Airways, South Korea's Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific of Hong Kong and the Chinese Hainan Airlines — presently hold the coveted global rating.
Garuda Indonesia has made a major turnaround after flagging for years to become one of the best airlines in the region from near bankruptcy about 10 years ago.
"The five-star rating is in recognition of the major improvement in quality standards at Garuda Indonesia, reflecting the hard work by the airline in recent years,” said Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted.
During a grand ceremony attended by Indonesia's Minister of Transportation Ignasius Honan and other senior officials, Plaisted presented the award to Garuda's new President and CEO M. Arif Wibowo.
Senior officials from Garuda and Skytrax, foreign diplomats, industry executives and representatives of the global media were present at the event at Hotel Indonesia Kempinski in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Congratulating the Garuda team, Jonan said becoming a five-star airline “is an impressive achievement that not only improves the airline's reputation, but also of Indonesia in the eyes of the world.”
Wibowo said the achievement marks another important milestone for Garuda Indonesia as it is a “testament” of the world's recognition of improvements in products and services under the ongoing “Quantum Leap” transformation program.
The airline's performance is increasingly being recognized at international level. Garuda won accolades as the airline with "The World's Best Cabin Crew 2014" from Skytrax at the Farnborough International Airshow.
Previously, Garuda was awarded "The World's Best Economy Class" in 2013, "The World's Best Regional Airline" in 2012, and "The World's Most Improved Airline" in 2010, also by Skytrax. During the "Passenger Choice Award 2013" in Anaheim, California, organized by Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX), Garuda was chosen as the "Best in Asia and Australasia Region".
A Skytrax rating is obtained after an all-round assessment of an airline's onboard and airport products and services. For Garuda, the assessment also took into account of the airline's planned move next year to a new base at Terminal 3 of Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Wibowo said.
The new hub is expected to improve and expand premium passenger facilities not only for Garuda but for all its SkyTeam partners, he told Saudi Gazette.
"The five-star rating is not presented in recognition of the fancy meals served to the first class passengers. We place a lot of importance on the fact that the majority of customers travel in economy and the quality and consistency of those standards contributed greatly to Garuda securing five stars," Plaisted told a press conference later Tuesday.
Wibowo, former president director of Garuda's low-cost subsidiary Citilink, was appointed president and CEO of the national flag carrier following the resignation of Emirsyah Sattar in December 2014.
Sattar was honored at the ceremony for the many breakthroughs during his tenure since 2005. He took the helm at a turbulent time when Garuda was on the brink of bankruptcy and succeeded in turning it into a profitable carrier by improving overall services and safety.
Wibowo, who is also chairman of the Indonesian National Air Carrier Association (INACA), is not a new face at Garuda. He began his aviation industry career as an aircraft maintenance engineer with Garuda in 1990 and went on to become the airline's executive vice president of sales and marketing before joining Citilink in May 2012.
With one of the youngest fleets in the sky, the airline connects more than 70 destinations worldwide to an array of exotic locations on the Indonesian archipelago with close to 600 daily flights and a fleet of more than 130 aircraft.


Clic here to read the story from its source.