A plane of Garuda Indonesia (Photo: AFP/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – PT Garuda Maintenance Facilities(GMF) AeroAsia, a company of flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, forecast strongerdemand for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services fromnon-affiliated international airlines as a result of diverted flights dueto the COVID-19 outbreak.
President director Tazar Marta Kurniawan saidGMF AeroAsia projected a year-on-year increase of 80 percent inthe contribution of non-affiliated international airlines for its MROservices, from 71 percent in 2019.
The firm might receive more orders for MROservices from international airlines, since those who were scheduled to havemaintenance in China, for example, would be diverted to this company because ofthe coronavirus outbreak, he noted.
Notable carriers such as American Airlines, AirFrance and Qatar Airways have temporarily halted all flights to China. Severalcountries, including the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, have alsotemporarily suspended all flights to mainland China to prevent thefurther spread of the virus.
GMF AeroAsia had so far received three ordersfor maintenance services from international airlines that were not onthe company’s roster this year, Tazar said, adding that the increased demandfor maintenance from non-affiliates could offset the expected declinein orders from affiliate airlines as well as flag carrier GarudaIndonesia and its low-cost subsidiary Citilink Indonesia, since bothairlines have reduced their flights to China and Saudi Arabiafor “umrah” (pilgrimage).
He said GMF AeroAsia would accommodate neworders according to capacity, and the company plans to open anew MRO facility this year in Denpasar, Bali, bringing its totalto 25./.
VNA
