Garuda 'surprised' by EU ban extension

National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia was surprised to hear the European Commission's decision to extend the ban on the airline from entering European territory, the airline claiming to have carried out the necessary measures to improve safety.

Last Friday, the EU decided Garuda and other Indonesian airlines would remain blacklisted, saying Indonesian authorities and Garuda were yet "to demonstrate they had completed the corrective actions".

"Pending both this demonstration and the completion of remedial action by Garuda and the other airlines, it was decided that none of the Indonesian carriers could be withdrawn at this stage from the list," the EC said in a statement.

However, Garuda spokesman Pudjobroto said the decision was unexpected, especially after a Garuda delegation had informed the EU Commission on Transportation earlier this month of the progress it had made in its safety commitment.

"Garuda Indonesia was the only airline which had the opportunity to discuss safety improvements," he told The Jakarta Post.

He explained the delegation, spearheaded by President Director Emirsyah Sattar, met with the committee on April 3 in Brussels and claimed they were "impressed" with the airline.

"They acknowledged our changes and were happy we were about to receive a safety certificate from the IATA (International Air Transport Association)," he said, referring to International Operational Safety Certification (IOSA).

IATA is a group of 161 international airlines and Garuda is its sole Indonesian member.

An IOSA certificate recognizes the operation, maintenance, safety management, training and finance management of international standard airlines.

Pudjobroto said Garuda was set to receive the certificate next May, after going through 600 checks.

Indonesia was first on the EC's list in July last year after four deadly crashes, including one Garuda Boeing 737-400 in Yogyakarta on March 7, in which 21 passengers died and many others were injured.

The list of banned carriers, effective last Friday, includes those from Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Swaziland and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The EC said it would continue to closely monitor Garuda's corrective action progress.

(taken from: here)