PT. Garuda Indonesia (Persero) has concluded a corporate sales agreement with PT. Shell Indonesia as part of the airline's efforts to enhance service towards its corporate customers as well as enhance the mobility of the oil company's employees and their family.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Garuda Indonesia President & CEO, Emirsyah Satar, and President and Country Chairman of PT. Shell Indonesia, Darwin Silalahi, on Wednesday, 10 February 2010 in the Auditorium of the Garuda Management Building, Cengkareng.

Commenting on the occasion, Garuda Indonesia President & CEO, Emirsyah Satar said, "We are very pleased to offer our services to Shell, which is known for its strict safety standards. By offering competitive pricing and rendering quality services we are being true to our commitment to become a world class airline."

Darwin Silalahi, President and Country Chairman of PT. Shell Indonesia, added, "Amid tough airline conditions and increasing competition, we have seen how Garuda Indonesia has reorganized itself and shown that it is capable of meeting even the most exacting and demanding of expectations. Despite problems, market deregulation has had a favorable impact on the airline, allowing it to improve its competitive edge and acquire significant profits. I would like to congratulate Garuda Indonesia on its successful transformation program and we are truly honored to be part of this cooperation."

From now on, all Shell Indonesia employees are entitled to special rates and services when traveling with Garuda Indonesia on either business or leisure travels.

In line with the increase in capacity in 2010 and after the acquisition of 24 new aircraft and the opening of 10 new domestic and international routes, the airline targets co-operations with 750 companies to secure a potential income of IDR 2 trillion. In 2009, Garuda Indonesia signed a MoU for corporate sales with 580 big companies in Indonesia with a total income reaching more than IDR 600 billion.

To develop corporate market in the future, the airline will ease access for its corporate partners through "Garuda Online Booking Corporate" facility, which will also expand to its branch offices abroad.

Among the 24 new aircraft expected to arrive this year are 23 B-737-800NGs and 1 Airbus 330-200. The airline has also added 10 new domestic and international routes to meet increasing market demands. In addition, in August 2009, Garuda Indonesia launched a new service product based on warm Indonesian hospitality, called Garuda Indonesia Experience.

With regard to its service, Garuda Indonesia has earned four-star class recognition from Sky Trax, a United Kingdom-based research company specializing in the rating of commercial airlines. It also expects to earn the five-star title by 2013.

Shell is a global group of energy and petrochemicals companies employing more than 102,000 people in more than 100 countries and regions throughout the world, based in The Hague, the Netherlands. In Indonesia, Shell operates in various locations in Java and Kalimantan and continues to look for opportunities to develop its business and to contribute significantly to the country.