Garuda's initial 777-300ER schedules revealed

According to Airlineroute.net Garuda Indonesia plans to commence 777-300ER operations in July 2013.

Jakarta-Jeddah will be served by the 777-300ER twice daily (except for Saturday departure from Jakarta and Friday departure from Jeddah, served 1x daily) from 1 July 2013 until 19 August 2013. The regular Jakarta-Jeddah service will then be suspended for the post Eid-Al-Fitr holiday season and recommence on 20 September. The Boeing 747-400 usually serving Jakarta-Jeddah will open a new daily Surabaya-Medan-Jeddah service from 1 August until 19 August.

The 777-300ER schedule between 19 August and  to 19 September 2013:

Denpasar-Tokyo Haneda will be served daily with the 777-300ER, this route will then tag on to Denpasar-Jakarta as GA405/406.

Jakarta-Tokyo Narita will be served 6x a week with the 777-300ER and the remaining day is served by the A330-200 (CGK departure Friday, NRT departure Saturday).

For more details please go to the Airlineroute.net page by clicking this link. 

New American Airlines look is similar to...

When American Airlines announced it's new livery, my jaw dropped.

American Airlines' new livery

No, my jaw didn't drop because it was good. It was the contrary.

Initially I thought that USA and Cuba are suddenly going to be friends. I mean compare the new American Airlines scheme with:

An American 757... On hang on, where's my glasses. OH!
SORRY! It's a Cubana Tu-204!

I thought that was that, until I saw this today.

I definitely AGREE with the meme.

So, does this mean that the USAirways-American Airlines merger is now replaced with American-Colgan, and that the new merged entity will get fresh cash injection to get out of bankruptcy courtesy of the Castro brothers and Cubana as the major shareholder of AMR?

On a more serious note, can someone replace that tail with the new logo?

For God's Sake AA, PUT THAT EAGLE ON THE TAIL PLEASE!

Indonesia Air enters jet scheduled service

Indonesia Air's A320 PK-TAA seen at Halim Airport's
South Apron. (From Twitter)

Poster depicting the A320 planned routes

Indonesia Air (I8) , better known as Indonesia Air Transport, is getting ready launch its new jet service using Airbus A320s. Initially I8 will base the A320s in Bandung and go head-to-head against Indonesia Air Asia and Lion Air, the other 2 carriers with bases in Bandung. The carrier has deliberately chosen a base outside Jakarta due to the competition and lack of available slots.

The A320 will be configured with 12 Business Class and 148 Economy Class seats. The first A320 (msn 421) has been registered as PK-TAA (previously EI-DNP). Proving flights are scheduled since 15th, and Indonesia Air plans to commence its A320 scheduled operations by the end of this month.

Indonesia Air is not a newcomer to the airline scene. The company was founded in 1968 and has a long history of providing charter flights to the oil and gas industry. Since 2008, I8 has been providing limited scheduled flights out of Bali and Lombok.

Express Air new livery

Eastern Indonesian niche carrier Expressair appears to be adding another 737-200 to its fleet, this time with a new livery. The aircraft is identified as PK-TXK, previously PK-CJJ with Sriwijaya Air, and is currently undergoing an overhaul at AeroNusantara Indonesia (ANI).

Expressair currently operates 737-200s, 737-300s, 737-500s, and Do-328s.

Batavia Air - In trouble? (Part 2)

Differences in claimed facts only point to trouble

Amidst chasing up on sources behind the scenes to follow up on what I wrote "Batavia Air - In trouble? (Part 1)", the Jakarta Post yesterday published this: "Batavia Air airplanes to be repossessed." 

According to the Jakarta Post article, the DGCA has received notice that 2 leasing companies plan to take back 2 737s from Batavia, citing that if Batavia Air could not settle its financial obligations immediately, the 2 jets would be repossessed and it would impact on its operations.

Batavia Air understandably, denied allegations that the company was in financial distress. "That's not the reason the lessor plans to take our aircraft," according to the company spokesperson. She did however, said that 2 A320s and 2 737-400s would be returned to the lessor, in accordance to the company's plans to reduce its fleet, in order "to balance the number of human resources such as pilots and crew members with the size of the fleet". The operations director, Herman Santoso, however, hinted at another reason, that Batavia was still negotiating the lease prices with the lessor.

So, Batavia itself gave out 2 different versions of the story in one go

PK-YVF seen in Singapore recently with Batavia markings removed
(Photo by: Dikavector / Indoflyer)

The second A320 can now be identified as PK-YVH thanks to this photo
(Photo by: Dikavector / Indoflyer)

Well, first of all, maybe the company spokesperson could be a little more up to date with the fleet numbers. We know that 2 A320s have been taken off the operational fleet since 16th May, as the two aircraft was seen in Singapore with Batavia Air titles removed. One of those aircraft is PK-YVF. We know that one of the 737-400s (PK-YVQ) was seen in Honolulu on 20th May on the way back to mainland USA, and that the aircraft was already re-registered as N594AB. 

To me, their answer points to "potential trouble brewing but being kept under the lid." Of course, what airline would admit that their planes are being repossessed? But repossessed or not, their fleet numbers will reduce.

Sources contacted are still pointing towards problems, but to varying degrees. One key person within Batavia, reportedly is resigning, but which key person, it is not yet known. I guess this remains as a mere rumour for the moment.

Over the past week, some travel agents have also reportedly seen an increase of refund requests from Batavia passengers. This is reportedly due to an increased number of published scheduled flights not operating, and that the refund process is now made "more difficult."

It is also suspected that Batavia has now stopped flying to Bandar Lampung (TKG), or have severely reduced its frequencies there. One agent in east Jakarta have complained a flood of requests for full refunds for passengers ticketed to that city.

Travel agents are reportedly more reluctant top up their account balances with Batavia used to pay for passenger tickets. The top up balance for Batavia has also increased from 10 million Rupiah ($1100) to 15 million Rupiah.

More on the A330 problems

All Umrah schedules are reported being moved forward because the A330s are rumored to be leaving the airline soon, which means Batavia Air will have no aircraft to serve Jeddah with. But this might actually be a good thing for Batavia. Their A330 ops appears to have been a financial disaster, or a maintenance program disaster. 

The A330s are used for the Jeddah flights which has had problems, the most recent two published on the media was last in March, where maintenance issues caused passengers to wait for 4 (four) days to get the aircraft fixed. On the 3rd day, the passengers went to the airport for a 630pm departure back to Jakarta, but after 4 hours inside the aircraft, they were asked to disembark, and they left the next day. 

The other case was reported a week later, the same thing occured again, with some passenger groups have been waiting for 5 (five days) in Jeddah, thanks to the Batavia delays on its Jakarta-Jeddah flights, followed by another case 2 days later where the passengers leaving Jakarta to Jeddah, had waited overnight due to the knock on delays, and Batavia had to get a replacement aircraft, reportedly from Orient Thai, and that aircraft too broke down causing more delays. After more than 48 hours wait, the passengers decided to have a demonstration at the boarding gate demanding explanation from the airline.  

(I've seen one of these, in February on the way to the Singapore Air Show. Umrah passengers were sitting in the airside terminal after immigration, demanding assistance from the airport because of uncertainty when their Batavia flight to Jeddah was going to depart. I thought it was a once off, I was wrong I guess.)

On the domestic front, remember the story of the passenger who covered for the delay compensation? Well, I guess "delay" and Batavia Air go hand-in-hand these days (despite having the 3rd best OTP in Indonesiafor January-November 2011). On Tuesday 29 May, another Batavia Air flight, from Pontianak to Jakarta, resulted in passengers crowding the Batavia ticket counter at the terminal demanding their delay compensation after over 4 hours of delays. Interestingly, the Pontianak general manager of airport operator Angkasa Pura II, who said that delays are happening more frequently with Batavia.

Whatever the problem is, there s a problem.

So, pilot shortage? Maybe... where did all their foreign pilots go? Why such a perceived jump in delays this year? Financial problems? Maybe... The questions go on and on...

My biggest clue perhaps is based on the Operations Director's comment at the Jakarta Post. Negotiating the price? Are these 4 planes reported to have left Batavia have their leases due for renegotiation? Perhaps someone should call Wells Fargo Bank or CIT Leasing?

The most interesting development however, was today where Batavia announced that it would immediately get 5 A320s to replace 4 aircraft that left the fleet. So, 24 hours after they stated that 2 would go (and none left), they suddenly admit that 4 have left. But remember the Jakarta Post article on the 30th, where the Director General for Air Transportation, Herry Bhakti Gumay, said that if Batavia Air could not settle its financial obligations immediately, the two jets would be repossessed and it would impact its operations. Let me emphasize on the words financial obligations, which does not match the "upbeat" press release of getting 5 replacement aircraft.

I'll guess we just have to wait and see what will happen with Batavia Air. My thoughts are with those working at the airline, some of whom, are understandably concerned.

Batavia Air - In trouble? (Part 1)

A few days ago I tweeted that I heard 2 Batavia Air A320s having been repossessed by its lessor. It all started when I received a message early this week that several cabin crew and pilots have started saying privately that the airline was about to go bankrupt, with about 4 - 5 737s to be returned, and the 330s as well, and that the chief pilot had resigned.

No Cash?

I called up my sources, whilst they were chasing up the information, rumours, leads and leaks, I came across this article at Tempo. The article dated 19 May revealed that 3 days beforehand a Batavia Air flight was delayed (by 5 hours after it was scheduled to depart, the flight, assumed to be from Pontianak to Jakarta). The passengers had decided to bring the airline's station manager to the airport security, and at the security office, a passenger stood up and addressed the other passengers.

"The problem here is that Batavia Air does not have the cash to compensate us in accordance to the regulations. In order for us to go home and rest, I am going to help Batavia Air."

Batavia Air at the airport had only IDR 16 million in cash, and the compensation that was due amounted to IDR 44 million. The passenger, Rasmidi, head of the Ketapang Regency Chamber of Commerce, then said, "I will cover the rest, please register yourselves to obtain the compensation. "I hope this serves as notice to Batavia Air, to reduce its flight schedules to match the small fleet that can operate."

It seemed that Batavia Air had overstretched its schedule.

Planes parked, or missing, and frequencies reduced: Signs?

As I wondered why on earth would Batavia Air not have cash for delay compensation, got to the airport the next day, and found both Batavia A330s parked together at the remote apron. This obviously raised alarm bells in my head, and prompted me to call up my sources again. By the evening, various sources began providing information. 

PK-YVF spotting at Singapore Changi devoid of titles
(Photo by: M. Aswin)

Another (ex-) Batavia A320 devoid of titles in Singapore Changi.
This one is suspected to be PK-YVH. (Photo by M. Aswin)

• 2 Batavia A320s had been seen in Singapore, also parked together at the remote apron. Later I received pictures of the airplanes, both have had their logo and titles removed. The aircraft had been in Singapore since at least 16 May according to sources. One is identified to be PK-YVF and the other is suspected to be PK-YVH as the pair are reportedly leased from CIT.
• 1 737-400, PK-YVQ is reported to have been returned to the lessor.
• Both A330-200s are reportedly being prepared to be returned to lessor.
• Another sources, had said that Batavia have reduced its flight frequencies on several routes by at least 1 flight a day.

Allegations, allegations and allegations - Is Batavia in trouble?
There have been numerous allegations of safety violations/breaches against Batavia. Most of the allegations in the past have been on the subject of crew flight hour limits being exceeded, whether weekly, monthly, or annual limits, are so many that I've lost count and stopped trying to remember them. The last time I heard of the allegation was if I remember correctly, when it was alleged that a DGCA inspector asked a Batavia pilot at Jakarta's airport waiting for his crew transport home, to show his flight log book, to which it was found that the crew had violated one of the periodic flight hour limitations. This reportedly led to immediate removal of the Operations Director.

Past allegations have also included questionable operational decisions, such as the company's route to Luwuk, where former crews claimed that they were not given charts of Luwuk Airport and that the procedures for route and the airport was made up as they go along. One or two allegations regarding operations of aircraft with no-go maintenance issues have also been made (one claim involved an A320 being dispatched on a single IRS, and another claimed that weight limits were exceeded).

Note: The above are allegations and cannot be independently verified.

Poor Maintenance cause delays. A delay (that is not caused by weather or factors beyond the control of the airline which does not include maintenance) exceeding 3 hours now require IDR 300,000 (about US$32) per passenger, cash compensation to be given to the passengers. If an a 737 has 10 flights a day, and each is delayed by over 3 hours, that's US$47,000 to US$55,000 in cash compensations. That amount is about the same as the monthly dry lease rate of an early 1990s built 737 classic. It takes no genius to figure out that delays caused by maintenance, is extremely expensive!

The overrun at Balikpapan in March was the second incident
involving the aircraft in the last few months.

The allegations mentioned above, are very hard to prove. We can believe in them or dismiss them as the claims aren't independently verifiable. However, the findings by the NTSC on the recent A320 runway overrun at Balikpapan ("Update: Batavia A320 Overrun at BPN 12Mar12" (dated 23rd April 2012)), does provide insight into the potential problems. The NTSC found that:

• Batavia had not maintained the aircraft (involved in the incident) in accordance with the Airbus service bulletins, or even, Airbus's recommendation regarding rectification of the cause of the previous incident involving the aircraft. 
• It was also revealed that the airline disregarded the Airbus recommendation for the problem on the brake servos be solved prior to its next revenue flight (after 1st incident at Jayapura) 
• It was found that the airline's Technical Director was different from the Ops Spec submitted and approved by the DGCA.

The NTSC findings above are NOT allegations, they're not in the business of making allegations.

A330 Ops: Batavia's most descriptive bungle

Batavia made a bid in the 2012 Hajj tender. The airline had submitted its bid, which includes utilizing both of its A330-200s, and leasing 4 A330-300/A340-300 from Air Asia X, and 1 777-200 from EuroAtlantic, however Batavia also admitted they had not had any agreements regarding those leases because it was waiting for a decision from the Ministry of Religious Affairs before making commitments on the leases. The Ministry then announced that Batavia had not met the required qualifications specified in the tender documents, which included LOIs to show adequate commitment (ie: "not bluffing") on leases and also possession of IOSA certification. Batavia had none, and can only meet 7 of the 11 qualification criterias .

Batavia then lashed out claiming monopolistic malpractice as a reason for its failure to win a spot in the hajj flights. "This is not the first time we’ve proposed the service and not won," commercial director Sukirno Sukarna said to Jakarta Post, adding the airlines had tried in the past several years to win the haj transportation tender. But the Jakarta Post article showed that Batavia does not understand the tender: 

• Last year Batavia had  its bid rejected because it did not have landing permits for the Hajj flights or had not applied for it, Batavia rejected such notion, claiming that it had the landing permits for Jeddah (except that it is for tourist and business (ie: regular scheduled) flights, and not Hajj flights which is a separate permit).
• Instead of obtaining LOIs for aircraft leases, Batavia instead provided a loan commitment from a bank amounting to $1.3 million to lease aircraft for the hajj flights (something which is grossly inadequate, even for 1 aircraft!)
• Instead of obtaining an IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification, they said that "we have secured an ISO certificate that guarantees our service and safety. That is the same," according to Batavia's commercial director Sukirno Sukirna. DGCA spokesman Bambang Ervan had to explain to the media the difference between an ISO and an IOSA.
• The ISO/IOSA games played by Batavia, isn't bought by anyone, because in March, Batavia actually said they were after the IOSA and that they were going to commence the process in 2013, and that Sukirno Sukirna stated that one of the reason is to be able to qualify for the Hajj flight tenders.

Outside of the Hajj bids, the A330-200 operations into Jeddah and Riyadh had seen poor load factors. Batavia initially announced it would fly to Haneda and has recently announced it would delay opening the route citing rising fuel costs as a reason (shouldn't they have factored in this?). If the A330-200s end up being returned to the lessor, I would not be surprised, in fact, such a move could actually save Batavia Air, but this doesn't answer the question as to why the 2 A320s are being returned.

So, who's pulling who's leg?

To conclude all the above briefly, I will add that around a year ago, a source from the financial industry mentioned to me that the airline's balance sheet was in a total mess, with negative cash flow all the time. He estimated that unless something changed, Batavia would run out of cash in about 11 months. The 11th month, was to be May 2012. If Batavia is indeed in trouble, would Rasmidi, who saved Batavia Air's station manager from being arrested or clobbered by Batavia passengers, get his money back?

Whatever is happening in there, hiccups do happen, and sometimes spectacularly when it comes to Indonesian airlines, but my hope remains: That the airline improve, turnaround, and come back as a strong and healthy player in our ever growing market. We don't want another Adam Air here!


Part 2 can be found HERE. 

Cathay Hospitality: Lounges, Klout Scores, and my evil mind

In the scramble to "milk in" the social media boom, you can now Klout your way to the Cathay Pacific lounge at San Francisco International Airport. I ran across the article at my friend's blog, UXmilk. All you need to do is have a Klout score of 40 or above.

The CX lounge in SFO (Photo: TravelWeeklyAsia via UXMilk/@9VSKA)

This move appears to be Cathay trying to market itself to the above average social media population. According to Klout, the average Klout score is about 20. Anything above 20, means the person is relatively influential rather than influenced in social media. To me, this is the social media equivalent of using celebrities or persons of influence giving testimonies on a product.

The problem is, a typical person people with a Klout score between 20 to 60 tend to be social media junkies who tend to follow other social media junkies. News would spread fast... including bad news, and parodies. Now, in my particular case, the same day I read UXmilk's blog article, I came across this in my Facebook, complete with the caption:

CX Hospitality in CGK:
First Class: To the left, through the air bridge and into the cabin, please.
Business Class: To the left, through the air bridge and into the cabin, please.
Economy Class: Get the f*** out, through that door, wait on the tarmac and be patient!
(No, I'm not kidding, the caption is from the Facebook of a Cathay Pacific passenger)

I know the photo was making a joke out of the positioning of the board, but I can't help to think of a desperate-for-existence-social-media-junkie, who found out about the Klout & CX Lounge partnership on his/her way from San Francisco to Jakarta, and decided to tweet anything during the journey and his/her stay in Jakarta to increase the Klout score, in the hope of getting into the lounge on the next trip out of San Francisco... only to be thrown out of the airbridge onto the tarmac and be told to wait. His/her Klout score would go way up from that, and in no time the CX lounge in SFO would be filled with non-CX and non-OneWorld passengers!

Before you get the wrong idea, OF COURSE I AM JOKING! I do hope this partnership extends to other locations, even though I tend to fly non-OneWorld carriers... and I'd much rather show my Klout score rather than dish out a gazillion Indonesian Rupiah for a First or Business class ticket or pay an entry fee at "exclusive airline lounges" that is not so exclusive... Most of the people I know in Klout have a score above 40... this makes the lounge less exclusive than one with a $10 entry fee!

Sriwijaya launches new livery and 2 class service

Sriwijaya Air launched its new livery and new 2-class service on 15 May 2012. Some aircraft are already fitted with the business class seats, and the rest of the fleet will be retrofitted as they roll through the C-Checks.

Sriwijaya's 1st 737-800 PK-CLA now wears the new livery

Sriwijaya Air is also obtaining ex-United/Continental 737-500s.
The first, PK-CLC, is also sporting the new livery.

Showing off the new uniform to Indonesia's Director General of
Civil Aviation.

Crew with the new uniform poses for the camera
with local designer Oscar Lawalata

Rear view of the new uniform - Makes me ask, what's the point
of the red flap on the skirt on the front right in previous photos?

The new uniform is now Sriwijaya's 5th uniform for the female flight attendants and marks a return to a dark red theme, while for the male flight attendants the uniform is the second issue and departs from the dark blue theme.


In the meantime, news are surfacing that Sriwijaya Air will also be delaying delivery of its 20 Embraer E190s, citing the need to reach an agreement on the price with Embraer (and we thought that firm orders would include a firm and agreed price right?).

Latest addition to Indonesia Air Asia spotted: PK-AXW

Indonesia Air Asia's 22nd A320 will arrive in Jakarta soon. The latest, PK-AXW with msn 5137 was recently spotted making its first flight on 24th April 2012:

First Flight of Indonesia Air Asia's 22nd A320 (to be 19th in current ops)

Indonesia Air Asia currently operates 18 A320s. Towards the end of 2011, 3 new A320s on lease were sent to Malaysia Air Asia (PK-AXN, AXO, AXQ) in exchange for 4 "old" A320s (PK-AXR, AXS, AXT, AXU) from the latter, sold to Indonesia Air Asia, to comply with the regulations in force beginning 1st January 2012, where airlines must have 5 owned aircraft and at least 5 more leased aircraft. But don't worry, the oldest one is from as late as 2006.


(Thanks to @arifmuharram for the heads up!)

First A380 landing in Jakarta, Indonesia. 4-May-2012

I was shocked to suddenly see this on my Twitter, Facebook, local forums, etc.

The A380 has landed in Jakarta 

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (WIII/CGK)

9V-SKC in CGK

Quick calls and searches, found the story to be true.

9V-SKC was performing Singapore Airlines flight SQ232 from Sydney to Singapore when a passenger became ill, requiring a medical diversion. The aircraft landed at CGK at 0846UTC at runway 25R, and parked at taxiway WC1 between NP2 and NPW, where the passenger was evacuated. Aircraft then made a U-turn at NPW onto WC2 for NP2 and N6, where it departed runway 07L safely at 0930UTC to continue to Singapore (revised estimated arrival currently at 1130UTC).

This friend of mine was very happy to see the A380 in Jakarta
(photo by: Ignatius Suryadi)

Aircraft parked at WC1 instead of a parking stand so that it does not require pushing back to continue. However, A380 capable pushback trucks and towbar are available at the airport, to provide ground handling capability for diversions requiring a parking stand. In this occasion, a scissor lift truck (like the ones for catering) performed the passenger evacuation.

Use this chart to find where the aircraft landed, parked, and took off.
(Chart by: Gerry Soejatman)

Whilst the aircraft can be serviced at Jakarta and suitable parking spots exist for the A380, no regular A380 schedules has been made due to lack of boarding gate space capability at Terminal 2D and 2E (international terminals), and apart from the remote parking areas, only parking stand D11 (gate D1) is A380 capable  in terms of size.

Dreamers within the Indonesian aviation community have long awaited the arrival of the A380 in Indonesia. Many cite reasons as ridiculous as "airport runways cannot handle the A380" to "everyone should fly the A380 to Jakarta"... but I'm sure a lot are shocked to see the A380 finally land in Jakarta.

Unfortunately, the ill passenger had passed away. Ironically, he was an Indonesian who was likely to be flying SYD-SIN-CGK anyways. It's bittersweet congratulations to 9V-SKC as the first A380 to ever land in Indonesia. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts, it's not always a happy ending. To the wife of the ill passenger (who was travelling with him) and his family, my condolences.


Edit 1200UTC:
Pax heart attack reported over Bali, Jakarta was nearest suitable airport from Bali for the A380.

Sriwijaya's 1st 737-800 finally arrives as 2-class service launch nears

Sriwijaya's first 737-800 finally arrived in Jakarta in the early hours of Sunday 22nd April 2012. The aircraft was delivered from Cairo, Egypt, with Midwest Airlines as the previous operator. The delivery route was CAI-DXB, where the aircraft overnighted, then onto DXB-MLE-CGK.

MSN 28591 (ex SU-MWD) arrives in Jakarta CGK
to join Sriwijaya Air as PK-CLA

The aircraft  flew on 11 March 1999, and owned by GECAS. It has a colourful history, originally starting with Istanbul Airlines as TC-IAH, and transferred to Pegasus Airlines of Turkey a year later as TC-APY. During its stint at Pegasus the aircraft also saw service for Khalifa Airways under wet lease, and finally left Turkey on 30 May 2007 and joined Futura as EC-KFB until the latter folded on 9 September 2008. The aircraft saw service briefly with Axis Airways as F-GZZA from 30 March 2009 until 7 Dec 2009 when that airline too ceased operations. On 10 June 2010 the aircraft joined the troubled Midwest Airlines of Egypt as SU-MWD, before finally finding a new home with Sriwijaya Air, with a new registration PK-CLA.

SU-MWD/PK-CLA enjoying the first
day in Jakarta basking in the sun

The delivery flight have been delayed for a while, due to paperwork for flight clearances on both the Indonesian end and the Egyptian end. But all the wait is now over. The aircraft is due for a C-Check where it will also be painted in Sriwijaya Air's new colour scheme, and cabin to be configured with 8 Business Class and 168 Economy.

All of Sriwijaya Air's 737-800s will
operate in the new colour scheme

Sriwijaya Air's launch of the new 2-class service is now overdue to delivery delays of SU-MWD and the recent arrival of an ex United/Continental 737-500W currently undergoing cabin reconfiguration, repainting, and C-Check. The 2-class service launch has been revised to (15 May 2012. All 737-800s and 737-500Ws will be reconfigured with 8 Business seats and the rest of the cabin in economy. Several aircraft in service have already been configured ahead of the new service launch. According to the website CH-Aviation, Sriwijaya Air reportedly has also leased 2 737-800s from TUIfly in Germany but the delivery dates are not yet known as both aircraft earmarked for Sriwijaya are still flying with TUIfly.

Several Sriwijaya aircraft have already been fitted with 8 business
class seats prior to the 2-class service launch.

The Indonesian airline industry continues to grow but as capacity boosts are accelerating, we are seeing increased differentiation on the service front. The airlines realize they cannot continue to rely on competing similar schedules and prices as fuel price continue to rise. While Garuda have focused on the premium sectors and reactivating its low-cost arm Citilink, low fare giant Lion Air's past failed experiments have resulted in creation of its premium sector carrier, originally dubbed Space Jet and currently reported to be called Batik Air. Sriwijaya Air as so far enjoyed the "middle ground" between the premium carriers and the low fare / cost carriers, but it is a place it shares with Batavia Air. Batavia Air itself have launched widebody service to Saudi Arabia and select domestic destinations with mixed results, and have recently announced it will postpone the start of the service into Tokyo Haneda citing fuel prices as the reason.

Rather than rushing into its next strategy, Sriwijaya have over the past two years formulated a plan to continue dominating the middle ground. Now that the aircraft it needs for the expansion under the new strategy begins to arrive, it's going to be an interesting ride for this "traditional carrier."