REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR -- National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia plans to increase the number of economy seats and reduce business-class seats to attract more passengers prior to the implementation of ASEAN Open Sky at the end of 2015.

Garuda Indonesia President Director Arif Wibowo told a media gathering here on Friday that the company?s strategic plan is aimed at maintaining the business character of Garuda Indonesia as a full service airline by offering lower cost seats.

"In the face of ASEAN Open Sky, we will continue to maintain full service, high quality and a lower cost per seat, he said.

By reducing the number of business-class seats to eight, from the previous 12, the airline will be able to save the cost of each seat, he said.

"For instance, the price of one seat is US$50. By increasing the number of economy-class seats, it could be lowered to US$45. Even if it falls to US$40, we still can serve passengers and increase margins," he said.

He added that Garuda Indonesia will reduce the number of business-class seats on its Boeing B738 planes starting at the end of the first quarter of 2015.

By increasing the number of economy seats Garuda could attract more domestic passengers, which totaled 34 million, compared to 66 million throughout ASEAN.

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