British Airways (BA) is expected to resume flights to Jakarta before the end of 2013.
BA last served Jakarta before the economic downturn a few years ago. Indonesia’s air transport director, Djoko Murjatmodjo, reportedly told the Jakarta Post recently that six new foreign carriers would soon begin services to the country. BA is reportedly one of the carriers and is expected to make an official announcement shortly.
The UK’s national airline recently rescheduled its London to Singapore terminator flights, BA11 and BA12, to allow a longer layover in the City State. The eight hours that the aircraft remains on the ground would be adequate to fit in a return ‘tag’ flight to Jakarta.
Lufthansa also used to offer the same route when it last served Jakarta via Singapore. Since Lufthansa quit Jakarta, there are only two European carriers that operate there, namely KLM and Turkish Airlines. If BA decides to return, it is likely to have traffic rights similar to Lufthansa’s and carry passengers between Singapore and Jakarta.
Meanwhile, Indonesian airline, Garuda, which was set to inaugurate flights from London Gatwick to Jakarta and Sydney on November 2, has amended its UK website. The airline is thought to be considering its options in the light of BA’s possible return, according to Business Traveller.
But British Airways will face stiff competition, not only from Garuda but also from SIA and from the Gulf carriers who are all adding more services. Emirates alone operate three daily B777-300ER flights into Jakarta, while SIA flies nine times a day from Singapore, with connections from its five daily UK flights.
