Garuda Indonesia has confirmed the appointment of Wamildan Tsani Panjaitan - the former interim chief exeutive of low-cost operator Lion Air - as its new CEO.

Before his career in commercial aviation, Wamildan served as an Air Force pilot, flying Boeing 737-200 surveillance aircraft.

State-run Garuda Indonesia said on Friday it had appointed as its new chief executive officer Wamildan Tsani Panjaitan, a former acting head of budget Lion Air who pledged to improve the flag-carrier's performance.

State-owned carrier PT Garuda Indonesia has removed Irfan Setiaputra as president director, he said in a text message to Bloomberg News.

Indonesia is considering switching the chief executive officer at the Garuda Indonesia airline, part of the new government’s push to advance the carrier’s profitability

The chief executive officer of state carrier Garuda Indonesia said on Friday he had been dismissed after shareholders came to a decision that he would be replaced. CEO Irfan Setiaputra told Reuters in a text message that the decision was taken during a meeting of shareholders on Friday.

Garuda Indonesia appointed Wamildan Tsani Panjaitan, a top manager at PT Lion Mentari Airlines, as its next chief executive officer as the Southeast Asian nation’s flagship carrier looks to turn a profit and expand its international network.