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Pope Francis's Visit To Papua New Guinea Was Conducted Aboard A Garuda Aircraft

Garuda Indonesia has been selected as the airline to transport Pope Francis to Papua New Guinea today, Friday, September 6, 2024. It is known that the Bishop of Rome concluded his visit to Indonesia on Tuesday, September 3, during which the President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Irfan Setiaputra, accompanied the journey from Jakarta to the capital of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby. 

For this flight to Papua New Guinea, Garuda Indonesia operated a wide-body aircraft, the A330-900neo, with flight number GA-7780, which has a capacity of up to 301 passengers. 

The aircraft departed from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta at 09:45 local time and arrived at Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby at 18:50 local time. 

Irfan Setiaputra, the President Director of Garuda Indonesia, expressed, "It is a distinct honor for us to be involved in such a significant moment for Indonesia, where Garuda Indonesia has been entrusted to facilitate Pope Francis's journey to his next destination, Papua New Guinea, through this flight with Garuda Indonesia," as quoted from the official statement on Friday, September 6, 2024.

Irfan stated that this flight embodies the enduring spirit of nationalism of Garuda Indonesia, which consistently supports various initiatives of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia. "Pope Francis's visit carries a mission of brotherhood and interfaith tolerance in Indonesia, making our participation in this agenda highly significant for Garuda Indonesia as the national flag carrier, which also represents the diversity reflected in all the services we provide," Irfan remarked.

In an effort to enhance the readiness of the flight, Garuda Indonesia is engaging in intensive coordination with all stakeholders. This is also to ensure that all actions and procedures undertaken meet the required standards.

Through various initiatives, Garuda Indonesia is supported by its subsidiaries within the Garuda Indonesia Group, which play a crucial role in the airline's services. This support encompasses a wide range of aspects, including technical, operational, and customer service.

"The presence of Garuda Indonesia during Pope Francis's journey is a testament to the dedicated efforts of all members of the Garuda Indonesia Group, including the Engineering Team of Garuda Indonesia and GMF AeroAsia, who ensure the airworthiness and safety of the fleet; Aerofood ACS, which provides not only delicious but also hygienic and healthy inflight meals; Gapura Angkasa, responsible for seamless ground handling processes; Aerojasa Cargo, offering logistics services to and from the airport; and the flight crew, who serve as the frontline of service during the flight," explained Irfan.

As part of the special service for Pope Francis's flight, Garuda Indonesia has assigned a crew of 16 members, consisting of 4 cockpit crew and 12 cabin crew. Additionally, Garuda Indonesia has incorporated several special touches in the services and touchpoints provided, including the inflight menu and materials.

Previously, Garuda Indonesia has operated several special flights to support the programs and activities of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia. These include humanitarian flights transporting aid for disaster victims both domestically and internationally; special flights for state visits by the President and Vice President of Indonesia; and the deployment of TNI soldiers (Garuda Contingent) for peacekeeping missions.

Tag: Bishop Of Rome Garuda Indonesia Papua New Guinea Transport Pope Francis