Garuda Indonesia having difficulty finding pilots

Garuda Indonesia Finance Director Elisa Lumbantoruan stated the carrier is having difficulties finding enough pilots to allow it to carry out its network expansion plans (The Jakarta Globe, 22-Oct-2010). Garuda plans to double its number of pilots to 1200 by 2014 to launch new routes and expand frequencies. Garuda Indonesia Pilot Association Chairman Stefanus Gerardus stated the carrier needs more than 200 pilots to operate the 24 new aircraft being delivered this year. The carrier's expansion is in response to growing traffic in the country, with passenger numbers in Indonesia expected to rise from 45 million this year to 60 million in 2014. Indonesia National Air Carriers Association (Inaca) Secretary General Tengku Burhanuddin stated the country requires 2000 additional pilots by 2014, when the ASEAN open skies policy is introduced.

Garuda Indonesia: "This shortage of pilots has impacted our cost structure and expansion this year. It's hard for us to open new routes or fly more routes because we're lacking pilots. It is unlikely for us to achieve our target this year," Elisa Lumbantoruan, Finance Director. Source: The Jakarta Globe, 22-Oct-2010.