PT. Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. (Garuda) on Tuesday, 31 May 2011, officially announced Makassar as its third hub to the east, after Jakarta and Denpasar. From now on, Garuda Indonesia flies to 13 new domestic and international destinations, namely Ambon, Balikpapan, Biak, Denpasar, Jakarta, Jayapura, Palu, Surabaya, Gorontalo, Manado, Ternate, Timika, and Singapore. Garuda Indonesia President & CEO, Emirsyah Satar said that Garuda Indonesia is always responsive towards market trends and quick to cash in on growing economic potentials in various regions, and network expansion is one way of improving service to customers. "Makassar is fast becoming an important business location and has always been a strategic point in the eastern regions of the archipelago. By developing Makassar as its eastern hub, Garuda Indonesia hopes to increase passenger travel as well as stimulate the local economy, which in turn will have a positive impact on the people's welfare," he added. The launching of the Makassar hub also supports the government's ongoing program, the "Indonesian Economic Development Expansion and Acceleration Master Plan (MP3EI) 2011-2015" in particular the 'Sulawesi Economic Corridor', which proclaims the region as center of production and manufacturing of agriculture, plantation, fishery and the national nickel mining products. The development of Makassar comes at a most opportune moment when the Sulawesi Economic Corridor is being developed as the front line of the national economy against the growing markets in East Asia, Australia and America. Meanwhile, the Governor of South Sulawesi, Sahrul Yasin Limpo, warmly welcomed Garuda's efforts to develop Makassar as its hub, said: "As one of the most strategically positioned and fast growing metropolitan cities in the archipelago, Makassar will undoubtedly benefit a great deal from this endeavor. I am confident that in Makassar and in other cities in the eastern part of Indonesia, businesses and the economy in the region will thrive. Makassar will be the first to connect cities in eastern part with cities in the western part of the archipelago and abroad," he said. "In addition, this new development will further ensure the success of the 'Visit South Sulawesi 2012' programme," he added. As of June 1, 2011, Garuda will introduce new routes from Makassar, which will further establish the city as a connecting city. The region will see direct flights to Singapore served once a day seven days a week with a Boeing B737-500 which has a seating capacity of 96 seats, consisting of 12 seats in business class and 84 seats in the economy class. Garuda also open new route from Makassar to Balikpapan vv, Makassar - Ternate vv and Surabaya - Ambon vv, effective 1 June by using B737-500. In the future, Garuda also sees Medan as the next hub for Sumatra and the surrounding regions.(mar)