After battling European regulators for nearly six years, Indonesia's flag carrier Garuda has finally resumed flights to Europe.

Regulators had previously blocked any Indonesian carrier from its air space based on a controversial safety assessment which lumped Garuda in the same category as a string of poorly managed, shoddy airlines involved in a string of fatal accidents in Indonesia.

Garuda has worked hard to prove its maintenance schedules and safety programs comply with world standards - at the same time as investing in new aircraft for its fleet - mainly US-built Boeings. Garuda received its IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification in May 2008, recognising that the airline was fully compliant with global standards for flight operations, aircraft maintenance and safety management systems. But the EU ban was not lifted until July 2009, finally allowing Garuda to commence negotiations on air rights and with airports.

Garuda said the resumption of services to Amsterdam this week marked the first step in rebuilding its long-haul international network. The Dutch-bound flights will run daily from Jakarta via Dubai.

Amsterdam is the first of several major European destinations which Garuda Indonesia intends to add to its network over the next four years, including Frankfurt, London, Paris and Rome. Some of those routes are likely to be served by new generation Boeing 787s when they're delivered.

Garuda says the new Jakarta-Amsterdam service provides passengers with greater connectivity and convenience and the choice of an alternative gateway between Asia and Europe.

“Europe will play an integral role in our five-year ‘Quantum Leap’ strategy which includes growing our international network as well as developing new concepts for both business and leisure travel,” said Emirsyah Satar, president and CEO of Garuda Indonesia. "Establishing a strong presence in Amsterdam and the rest of Europe is an important element in meeting these growth targets.

“We’re also planning to launch an Initial Public Offering (IPO) before the end of this year and our return to Europe is pivotal in determining the success of the IPO. We want to raise approximately US$300 million to support these long-term growth plans”, added Satar.

The daily service operates from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport using a 222-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft with a two-class configuration - 36 in Executive Class with flatbed seats and 186 in economy.

Pieter Verboom, CFO Schiphol Group, said Amsterdam Airport Schiphol was delighted to have Garuda Indonesia back.

"Garuda Indonesia’s return to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol opens a new area for passengers to travel between Asia and Europe. Passengers can also choose Jakarta as an alternative gateway to Southeast Asia and Australia. We are confident this route will strengthen relations between Indonesia and the Netherlands, both in business and leisure," he said.

Garuda Indonesia was recently upgraded to a four-star rating by Skytrax, the global benchmark for airline service standards, reflecting improvement in its front-line product and service quality. It was also named the ‘World’s Most Improved Airline’ at the Skytrax 2010 World Airline Awards in Hamburg, Germany last month. 8 million international passengers.

“We have invested heavily in developing a service culture known as the ‘Garuda Indonesia Experience’ which combines warm Indonesian hospitality with quality service and comfort," said Agus Priyanto, EVP commercial with the airline. " In addition, we will introduce an ‘Immigration On-Board’ service which will allow passengers entering Indonesia to have their travel documents processed on-board, eliminating the need to queue at immigration counters upon arrival."

Flight GA88 takes-off from Jakarta everyday at 20.40, arriving in Dubai at 02.00. It departs again at 03.15, arriving in Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport at 08.00 the next day. The return flight departs Amsterdam at 11.00, arriving in Dubai at 19.30. The same aircraft departs again at 20.30, arriving in Jakarta at 07.55.

To connect with the Amsterdam bound service, Garuda Indonesia has introduced direct flights into Jakarta from Sydney and Melbourne. These new direct flights commenced in August 2009 and on July 23 direct flights from Perth to Jakarta are scheduled to begin.

Garuda Indonesia is a full-service network carrier serving 28 domestic and 18 international destinations. The airline’s main hubs in Indonesia are located in Jakarta and Denpasar. In July 2009, the airline unveiled a new aircraft fleet, new in-flight product, new service concept and a fresh corporate identity to mark the start of its transformation into one of Asia’s most successful and profitable airlines.

Website: www.garuda-indonesia.com