The launch of Garuda Indonesia

When Garuda Indonesia launched its first aircraft, a DC 3, in 1948, Indonesia was not yet independent.

The DC3 was flown to India for a complete overhaul. The first flight in Garuda Indonesia livery was on 26 January 1949. This date was later recognised to be the airline's official birthday. The first flight was to Rangoon and the aircraft was contracted to the Burmese government for use in military operations.

Expanding the fleet

In 1969, the Fokker F27 turboprop aircraft went into service on domestic routes and two DC9S were delivered.

Two pure-jet F28s were added in 1971 and by 1980 Garuda had 24 DC9s and 33 F28s. The first of its DC10s was delivered in 1976 and the first of six Boeing 747-200s arrived in 1980. Then, in 1983, came the A300 Airbuses, followed at the end of the 80s and early 90s by A300-600s, B737-300s, MD11s and B737-400s.

By the early 1990s, Garuda planning was already looking beyond 2000. Its Boeing 737-300/400 fleet was growing and long-haul 747-400s were on order, the first of which was to be delivered in January 1994. Garuda lndonesia today is among the 30 biggest airlines in the world.