Garuda Indonesia (GA, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) is in talks with lessors to reconfigure its B737 MAX order book, chief executive Ari Askhara has revealed.

The Indonesian carrier currently has fifty B737-8s on order from Boeing of which only one has been delivered so far with the remainder deferred given an ongoing cost-restructuring programme.

According to its 3Q18 financials, in September 2018, the airline agreed to defer five B737 MAX 8s that were to have delivered in 2018 and five that were to have arrived in 2019 to 2023 and 2024 respectively.

However, with Askhara anticipating a profit for FY2018 and a further net profit of IDR1 trillion rupiah (USD69.03 million) for FY2019, the airline has once more embraced network growth.

Speaking to Bisnis, the CEO said Garuda was looking to add thirty-four B737-10s in 2020 as part of its fleet renewal plan.

"In total, there are 34 aircraft that are being converted into Boeing Max 10 in 2020. Prices are still being negotiated," he said.

Garuda's existing fleet of seventy-three B737-800s currently averages 7.3 years of age with the jets used on domestic Indonesian routes as well as on international flights to Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and China. According to the executive, the MAX 10's 9-hour flying time will allow Garuda to develop routes such as Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta-India. In addition, its improved fuel burn will also help to drive down unit costs.

Barring any additional order adjustments, Garuda is also due to take delivery of its first of fourteen A330-900s on order from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) later this year.