Garuda Indonesia has announced it will delay the launch of its Jakarta (CGK) to London Gatwick (LGW) service by six months because of capacity limitations at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The carrier had initially scheduled the inaugural flight for Nov. 2 using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft configured with eight first class seats, 28 business class seats and 268 economy seats.
The airline said inspections revealed the runway surface at Soekarno-Hatta is not yet strong enough to support a fully loaded 777-300ER at maximum take-off weight on the long-haul London sector. To ensure safe and compliant operations, Garuda has postponed the route launch until May 2014, which coincides with the planned completion of runway strengthening and upgrades at the airport.
Once the runway work is finished, Garuda intends to operate nonstop flights between Jakarta and London Gatwick five times per week. The carrier emphasized that the delay is a temporary measure tied to airport infrastructure, and that the revised start date will allow it to operate the route without payload or performance restrictions.
Garuda’s decision reflects common operational considerations for long-haul services, where runway strength and pavement condition can affect aircraft weight limits and the ability to carry full passenger and cargo loads. By waiting for the scheduled airport improvements, the airline aims to provide reliable, unrestricted service on the Jakarta–London route.
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