Garuda grounds its own jets

Garuda Indonesia has grounded at least 15 aircraft due to difficulties covering maintenance costs, while its low-cost subsidiary Citilink has grounded nearly half of its fleet. The situation raises serious concerns not only about the state-controlled airline’s financial recovery but also about operational safety.

GARUDA INDONESIA BOEING 737-8U3 PK-GMW (MSN 38069)

Data from planespotters.net shows Garuda Indonesia has 16 aircraft parked, primarily A330s and 737s, while Citilink has grounded 26 aircraft, mostly A320s and ATR 72s. One source said that several suppliers to Indonesia’s flag carrier are now demanding advance payment for parts and services, reflecting growing unease about Garuda’s financial health.

However, Garuda is not the only Indonesian airline with a significant number of parked aircraft.
Before examining the numbers in detail, it’s important to note that aircraft may be grounded for a range of legitimate operational reasons. These include scheduled or heavy maintenance, seasonal fluctuations in demand, or logistical needs such as aircraft repositioning. Airlines also sometimes operate "ghost flights" with few or no passengers to retain valuable airport slots. Additionally, some aircraft are stored long-term or retired to boneyards, where they may be scrapped for parts or kept in reserve.

Looking at Indonesia’s other major carriers we see that

• AirAsia Indonesia operates a fleet of 30 A320 aircraft, with 9 (or one-third) currently parked.
• Lion Air has 95 of its 371 aircraft grounded.