Tempo is reporting that national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has been recognized as the sole Indonesian airline to receive an award for Best Airline in the World for 2025, according to AirlineRatings.com and 25th overall with special recognition as the top full-service airline for 2025. This award highlights airlines dedicated to passenger comfort, positive customer feedback, and consistent product quality across their route network.
In a statement issued on February 8, 2025, Sharon Petersen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AirlineRatings.com said that “While our World’s Safest Airlines focus on safety, the World’s Best Airlines awards are centered on passenger comfort, feedback, and product consistency across an airline’s route network.”
Korean Air was named the overall winner and awarded the 2025 Airline of the Year for its commitment to passenger comfort, particularly in economy class, without sacrificing seat space, a practice some other airlines have adopted. Korean Air maintains a 33 to 34 inch seat pitch in its wide-body aircraft.
AirlineRatings.com clarified that the award is not a popularity contest. It is based on a rigorous evaluation of each airline’s overall offerings to passengers across its entire fleet and network.
Garuda Indonesia has long been known as one of the best airlines in the country, with extensive operations throughout Indonesia. It is considered a five-star airline known for its top-notch service. Garuda Indonesia has provided air service since Indonesia’s early years after gaining independence, according to Tempo.
Garuda Indonesia was established on January 26, 1949, when the Indonesian Air Force (AURI) operated as an airline leased to the Burmese government under the name Indonesian Airways. However, this arrangement was short-lived and ended after the Round Table Conference (KMB) agreement.
The KMB agreement mandated the Netherlands to transfer all assets of the Dutch East Indies to the United States of Indonesia, including the KLM-IIB airline (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij-Inter-Insulair Bedrijf). KLM-IIB was a KLM subsidiary, formed after KLM acquired the private airline K.N.I.L.M (Koninklijke Nederlandshindische Luchtvaart Maatschappij), which had operated in the Dutch East Indies since 1928.
On December 21, 1949, President Soekarno selected the name Garuda Indonesian Airways (GIA) as the official national airline of Indonesia. The transfer process involved KLM, which agreed to temporarily provide staff to train Indonesian aviation personnel, says Tempo.
On December 28, 1949, two GIA Dakota (DC-3) aircraft flew from Kemayoran Airport in Jakarta to Yogyakarta to transport Sukarno, one day after the Netherlands recognized Indonesia’s sovereignty. Following this event, which also marked the transfer of Indonesia’s capital back to Jakarta, GIA experienced significant growth. GIA became a state-owned company in 1950 and operated a fleet of 38 aircraft, including DC-3s, Catalina seaplanes, and Convair 240s.
Source: Tempo (Rindi Ariska and Putri Safira Pitaloka contributed to the writing of this article.)
Stock image by Orna from Pixabay
