National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia in Japan will carry through its plan to open a Nagoya – Bali route despite the fact that the air transportation business has been severely affected by the soaring oil price, a spokesman said. “The air transportation business has been greatly affected by the soaring oil price but our management is predicting that the route will be profitable,” Garuda district manager for Japan, China and the United States Arif Wibowo said on Wednesday.
He said Garuda was enjoying the support of Centrair, the airport authority in Chubu, the international airport for the central part of Japan.

“We also have the support of the Nagoya Chamber of Commerce and Industry,” he added.

He further said Garuda in Tokyo had conducted a study and approached related parties in Nagoya in relation with the planned opening of the new route.

The route was expected to be opened in June this year to support Garuda`s business expansion in Japan with a flight frequency of three times a week, he added.

Garuda is now serving a Tokyo-Bali-Jakarta route once per day and an Osaka-Bali-Jakarta route five times a week.

On the cost of a flight, he said, “The ticket will be around US$1,000 per person or some Y110,000.”

The ticket was previously sold at US$700 – US$800 per person.

news by ANTARA