Garuda Indonesia Airline: Jakarta – Labuan Bajo (VV)

Labuan Bajo is closer than ever…

I recall that 5 years ago we were thinking on how to persuade more airlines to serve a new route between Labuan Bajo – Denpasar. Despite the growing numbers of tourists arrival annually, this goal was still a hard one to accomplish.

At that time, only one local airline specializing in remote destinations flying between LBJ-DPS. This local airline sometimes using a BAE 4 engine jets but most of the time they operate with an ATR – a double propeller aircraft – famous in Indonesia for flights to/from remote destinations.

Then came Wings Air, also with ATR fleets. But these two airlines was shortlisted under EU blacklist airlines. And to tourism practitioners, that means big NO.

Couple years ago, the national flag carrier: Garuda Indonesia Airline, decide to open new routes within the country under #GarudaExplore campaign in response to the collapsed of Merpati Nusantara Airline, another national airline majoring in remote flights services.

One of the newly open route was Denpasar – Labuan Bajo – Denpasar, flying on schedule with Bombardier jets. The flight route was once even longer: Denpasar – Labuan Bajo – Tambolaka – Labuan Bajo – Denpasar.