REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Citilink Indonesia, a low-cost national airline, will increase its flight frequency in the run-up to and after the 2014 Lebaran holiday season, according to its CEO Arif Wibowo.

"We will increase the flights, both from Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma airports," Arif said during a discussion here on Friday evening.

Since obtaining the Air Operator's Certificate in August 2012, Citilink has carried 8 million passengers till the end of 2013 with occupancy rates of 85 percent and On Time Arrival of 87 percent.

Citilink has been the only scheduled airline this year to operate between Soekarno and Hatta International Airport and also between Halim Perdanakusuma Airport and Jakarta.

Citilink will increase its flight frequencies on routes from Jakarta to Jogyakarta, Padang, Banjarmasin, Medan and Denpasar, from July 20 to August 2, 2014, he explained.

"We will provide 80 thousand additional seats 10 days before and 10 days after the Lebaran holiday season. That means there are some 4 thousand additional seats per day," he noted.

The number of air passengers during the Lebaran holiday season this year will increase by 11.7 percent, the Ministry of Transportation has predicted.

"Therefore, Citilink will continue to make every effort to meet the needs of users of air transport services," Arif said.

Citilink was established in 2001 as a low-cost subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia to operate shuttle services between Indonesian cities.

Since July 30, 2012 Citilink has officially been operating as a separate business entity from Garuda Indonesia, operating 14 aircraft with a new call sign, logo and uniform.

Citilink?s main hub is Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, East Java.

In December 2012, Citilink placed an order for 25 ATR 72-600 with options for 25 more.

And in September 2013, Citilink cancelled the plan of operating ATR 72-600 as its parent company Garuda Indonesia took over the order citing commercial reasons.

This was Citilink's first direct order to a manufacturer. A direct order for 25 additional A320neo followed in January 2013, bringing the total order to 35.

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