There would be six flights a week. The Boeing 777-300 Extended Range with a capacity of 314 passengers (eight in first class, 38 in business class and 268 in economy class) would service the route. The aircraft would have WI-Fi facilities and chef-on-board service.
The London route will add to the other international routes, Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam. Garuda would also expand its flight network in Europe through a code-sharing agreement with other international airlines, including Etihad Airways, which will open access for its passengers to fly to seven other major cities in Europe. The UK is regarded as one of Indonesia’s largest markets, possessing the potential of 160,000 passengers traveling to and from the region for business and leisure.
Bali Tourism Agency data shows that visitors from European countries formed 22.42 percent of the total number of foreign visitors traveling to the resort island in January-November 2012. Two European countries, the UK and France, were among the top ten contributors of visitors to the island.
Two thirds of European passengers are tourists. Those who want to take leisure usually wish to be able to arrive in Bali, while those on business would expect to touch down in Jakarta. The European market has continued to display positive growth. For years, countries like the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and France have contributed huge numbers of visitors to Bali. They have a long vacation period, between two weeks to one month. And they have huge interest in the Balinese culture.