AIR FREIGHTER acquisitions are next on Garuda Indonesia's wish list as the airline unveils plans to augment passenger bellyhold capacity with full freighter flights before year-end.
    Garuda CEO Emirsyah Satar said he wanted to take advantage of rising air freight volumes in various regions of Indonesia and mounting investment in the country, announcing that he would get his first freighter by the end of this year.
    Garuda will have one A330-200F in service by next January and two more joining the fleet in 2013, he said.
    In 2010, there was also talk of converting up to seven of its B737-400s into all-cargo configurations, recalled Atlanta-area Air Cargo World. "This never materialised, although the concept has found favour with other carriers in Indonesia. Jakarta-based Airmark Indonesia Aviation obtained a 737-300F from GECAS in April, following a similar deal in February involving GECAS and Cardig Air,"  said the report.
    But while Garuda signed an order for eleven A330-300 passenger planes in April, the carrier has not given details on its freighter plans. But observers are confident Garuda will carry through this time.
    "I think they will bring in the freighters," said DHL Global Forwarding Indonesia general manager Ionut Mares, pointing out enhancements of the carrier's cargo facility at its Jakarta hub and the construction of a terminal for domestic freight, which will free up space at the existing facility to accommodate freighter operations.

(source:shipping online)