GARUDAis rescheduling its UK service following the withdrawal of flights to Indonesia by British Airways.
From November 29, the Indonesian flag-carrier will cut out one stop from its Gatwick-Bali route and make the service twice weekly.
Flights are currently three-times a week and stop in Frankfurt and Bangkok.
Under the new schedule, to be operated on Mondays and Saturdays, the Frankfurt stop will be dropped.
The carrier expects to attract additional UK business to the route once BA axes its twice-weekly service to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on October 30 (Travel Weekly August 16).
BA’s move leaves Garuda as the only carrier serving Indonesia from the UKwith a same-aircraft service.
Last year, Garuda dropped its own Jakarta flight from the UK to concentrate on the predominantly tourism-driven flight to Bali.
At the time, president Robby Djohan pledged UK flights would continue, despite fears from passengers after political riots rocked Indonesia.
The airline said the new Gatwick-Bali operation will offer connections to Jakarta and other Indonesian cities.
Garuda is also confident, despite ongoing turmoil in East Timor, that UK travellers will use the airline’s revamped UK schedule to connect to Australasia and the South Pacific.
A spokeswoman for the airline said Garuda also expected increased traffic to Bali due to the refurbishment of cabins with a new three-class layout on Boeing 747-400s.
The airline has dropped first class and replaced it with business, premium economy and economy cabins.
The spokeswoman said premium economy offers passengers improved service and greater room than economy, but at a cheaper fare than the usual business-class price.