Despite the current global economic crisis, in 2008 Garuda Indonesia managed to book a net profit of Rp. 669 billion. The Company achievement resulted from the improvement measures and programs which covered commercial, operational, and financial aspects, employee productivity enhancement as well as the efficiency program.

Thanks to programs carried out in the commercial aspect, which included service improvement, Garuda Indonesia succeeded in raising the passenger volume by 9%, from 9,2 million passengers in 2007 to 10,1 million in 2008. The airline's ASK (availability seat kilometer/ASK) also increased from 18,1 million seat kilometer in 2007 to 20,1 million seat kilometer in 2008, an increase of 11%.

Garuda Indonesia's operating revenue also experienced a significant increase of 37%, from 14,2 trillion in 2007, to 19,4 trillion in 2008.

In addition to production, other areas also showed positive improvements as a result of the introduction of an efficiency program (fuel conservation program, electronic procurement, system and procedure improvement, etc.) and enhanced employee productivity. Garuda Indonesia has also introduced a new corporate culture "FLY HI" (with the values: efficient & effective, loyalty, customer centricity, honesty & openness, and integrity) and a system of meritocracy in which employees are given the opportunity to develop their skills and potentials and the Company's appreciation and remuneration are given according to the employee's contributions to the Company.

Meanwhile, in 2008 Garuda Indonesia was presented with a number of awards and accolades as recognition of its outstanding performance, among others: Call Center Award (the Marketing an Care Center for Customer Satisfaction Magazine), Indonesia's Most Admired Companies/IMAC (the Frontier Consulting and Business Week Magazine), Indonesia Best Brand Award (IBBA (MARS Research Institute and SWA Magazine), e-Company Award (Warta Ekonomi Magazine), Indonesia Customer Satisfaction Award/ICSA (SWA Magazine and Frontiers Consulting), Best Service Excellence Award (Mark Plus), Perusahaan Idaman Award (Warta Ekonomi Magazine), as well as winning 4 categories in the Angkasa Award, namely Airline if the Year, the Most Favorite Airline, The Best OTP, and the Best Service.