Mandala Airlines targets 25% more passengers
April 7th, 2008
New Airbus airplanes will help Mandala Airlines reach its goal of carrying 25 percent more passengers this year, CEO Warwick Brady said last week.
“We are planning to invest a total of Rp 1.8 billion (US$206,232) on 30 new Airbus airplanes to achieve our 25 percent annual growth of passengers,” Warwick said.
Mandala Airlines head Diono Nurjadin said from 2009 the airline would operate with only two types of Airbus — the A-320, capable of carrying 180 passengers, and the A-319, capable of carrying 144 passengers.
The “new generation” airplanes will improve airline efficiency, Diono said.
“By using these new generation airplanes, we will be able to save 30 percent of fuel consumption,” he said.
The airline has switched from using the Boeing 737-200, which served the airline for 25 years.
“We are going to return all the Boeing-type aircraft that we rent and sell those that we own,” Diono said.
Warwick said low-cost carriers were forced to boost efficiency to compete.
“It is a myth that low-cost carriers are unsafe. On the contrary, we follow international standards and are the safest type of airline in the world. Low-cost carriers’ accident rate per 1,000 flights is less than other types of airlines,” he said.
The number of low-cost flights in the Asia-Pacific region has jumped from 3,900 in 2001 to 60,000 in 2007, according to the international flight information company OAG.
Mandala is currently undergoing an operational safety audit to receive certification by the International Air Transport Association.
Diono said although Mandala Airlines was not a member of the association, it had decided to be audited.
“We want to show the world we are meeting its standards,” he said. (lva)
Source: The Jakarta Post
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