FAA Clears Indonesian Carriers for Takeoff to the U.S.
Ryan Boyd August 16, 2016
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has upgraded Indonesian carriers to “Category 1” – the top air-safety rating – after almost a decade. Indonesia’s rapidly expanding aviation market had previously suffered several high-profile accidents and was downgraded in 2007, but recently, the European Union lifted a ban on three Indonesian airlines. After a fresh safety review in March, Indonesia now meets the safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), according to the FAA. “With the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Category 1 rating, Indonesian air carriers…can establish service to the United States and carry the code of US carriers,” said an FAA spokesperson.
To read more on this story, go to The Wall Street Journal.
[Photo: Garuda Indonesia]
It was reported in one of the local newspapers that the earliest they will start US service is in early 2017 ... the report quotes a GA official mentioning either Los Angeles (most likely I think) or NYC (highly doubtful) as the initial destination. The problem is he also mentioned that the service will initially only be 2 or 3 days a week using (gasp!) B747-400 aircrafts.