TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia opened a direct flight serving Surabaya-Lombok to accommodate people willing to attend the international motorcycle racing event MotoGP in Mandalika.

“With the opening of this flight route, we hope that it provides a variety of choices for people who will see the MotoGP Mandalika in Lombok,” said Irfan on Thursday evening, Feb. 10.

The state-owned airline will serve passengers from Surabaya to Lombok and vice versa twice a week, or every Thursday and Sunday with flight numbers GA 440 and GA 441.

The flight from Surabaya Juanda International Airport will depart at 09:55 WIB (Western Indonesian Time) and arrive at Lombok International Airport at 12:00 WITA (Central Indonesian Time). Meanwhile, the flight will return from Lombok at 12:45 WITA and arrive in Surabaya at 12:55 WIB.

Irfan continued that the airline management could possibly increase the flight frequency if there is a higher demand ahead of MotoGP which was slated to take place March 18-20, 2022.

“Garuda will see the development of passenger traffic,” Irfan said.

Garuda Indonesia now serves nine routes from and to Lombok every week. The airline employs B737-800 aircraft which can accommodate up to 12 business-class passengers and 141 economy-class passengers.

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FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA