Garuda Indonesia is to begin services from London to Jakarta, operating from their new UK base at Terminal 3 of London’s Heathrow Airport. 

The new service will be the first and only non-stop flight to connect the UK and Indonesia, beginning Thursday March 31st, 2016.

It is expected that seats will be on sale from the third week of February.

As part of the move, the Indonesian flag carrier will increase its service frequency to five times per week, departing every day except Mondays and Fridays.

Cutting out the previous stopover at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, the service will cater to business travellers travelling to Jakarta and leisure travellers stopping over on their way to the country’s many paradisiacal locations, including Bali.

Return flights to the UK will be direct via Singapore.

The move to Heathrow is part of Garuda Indonesia’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Europe and meet its commitment as the national flag carrier, to connect Indonesia to the world.

Enveloping all five senses, the unique Garuda Indonesia experience on-board, including the smell of aromatic flowers and traditional Indonesian food, ensures that passengers will be immersed in all that Indonesia has to offer.

Once in Jakarta passengers will be able to take advantage of Garuda Indonesia’s onward routes to Australia, various South East Asian destinations and 58 domestic locations.

Jubi Prasetyo, general manager UK & Ireland said: “Making the move to Heathrow Airport has been an ambition of ours since joining SkyTeam in March 2014.

“Heathrow’s pivotal role in servicing the alliance’s 1,052 destinations makes it an ideal departure airport for our passengers.

“Flying non-stop direct to Jakarta means we will truly be the most efficient way to reach Indonesia from the UK.”

The non-stop route from Heathrow will continue to utilise the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a three-class configuration.