Summary

  • Strengthening codeshare agreements benefits frequent flyers on both Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia.
  • Joint revenue agreement between the two airlines supports growth and enhances connectivity between Indonesia and Singapore.
  • Closer ties will meet increasing demand for air travel between nations, benefiting loyal customers with more earning and redemption opportunities.

With commercial aviation in Southeast Asia now within touching distance of pre-pandemic levels, airlines throughout the region are looking to strengthen their codeshare and strategic partnerships to capture as much demand as possible. This week, two of the region’s heavyweights, Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia, deepened their existing agreement.

Making it easier for FFs

This week, the Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines CEOs signed an agreement in Jakarta to strengthen their ties and commercial partnership. The two are already codeshare partners but want to deepen their connection with the aim of offering reciprocal benefits for their frequent flyer members when traveling on both airlines.

Singapore Airlines 737 MAX 8

Photo: Kittikun Yoksap I Shutterstock

Their work was complemented by a separate joint venture revenue agreement that, when implemented, will support joint capacity growth. This is a significant step toward a proposed commercial joint venture arrangement that covers Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia flights between Singapore and Indonesia.

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The two carriers are continuing with joint marketing programs to promote tourism, which may include jointly promoting tourist traffic to Indonesia. Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Garuda Indonesia (Garuda) already enjoy a healthy codeshare partnership, and the new agreement, signed by Garuda CEO Irfan Setiaputra and SIA CEO Goh Choon Phong, will make that a more attractive proposition for frequent flyers.

The CEOs are happy

Singapore Airlines customers can codeshare on Garuda flights between Singapore and Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali. Irfan Setiaputra said the [new] agreement would help Garuda improve its performance through a strategic commercial partnership and provide more added value to its customers.

“This partnership is a special moment for us, which also marks the 58 years of Garuda Indonesia’s journey in connecting Indonesia and Singapore. In the future, we hope that this partnership will continue to enhance social, cultural and tourism relations between Indonesia and Singapore whilst offering seamless access for customers to enjoy various destinations served by both airlines.”

A Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737 taxiing to the runway.

Photo: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock

With Southeast Asia finally shedding the COVID-era shackles, closer ties will also help meet the increasing demand for air travel between the two nations. Goh Choon Phong describes the new agreement as a win-win for both airlines that will improve the connectivity between Indonesia and Singapore.

“Furthermore, by deepening the synergies between our frequent flyer programmes, we can generate benefits for our loyal customers, offering them more opportunities to earn and redeem miles when travelling with both airlines.”

The existing deal allows Garuda customers to codeshare on Singapore Airlines flights between Singapore and the Indonesian cities of Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan and Bali. The codeshare program also includes long-haul flights between Singapore Changi Airport and Johannesburg, London Heathrow and Mumbai on SIA flights.

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The Jakarta agreement will allow GarudaMiles and KrisFlyer members to earn and redeem miles on codeshare flights operated by both airlines. Beyond those typical member privileges and benefits, the bigger picture is growing tourism in Indonesia by making it easier for foreign visitors to connect via Singapore and explore the country using Garuda’s extensive domestic network of more than 35 destinations.

Singapore Airlines Group has a fleet of 200 aircraft, with low-cost carrier Scoot operating 51 and Singapore Airlines operating 142 passenger jets and seven freighters. The Group’s passenger network covers 118 destinations in 35 countries and territories, with Scoot operating flights to 67 destinations and SIA serving 73.

Have you flown with Garuda Airlines? Let us know about it in the comments.

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