Is KLM going to Solo City (SOC)?

Whilst browsing the Indoflyer forums, I came across this topic about KLM wanting to open flights to Solo. In that topic, there was a link to an article by SoloPos.com, which stated that the Solo City (SOC) airport operator Angkasa Pura 1 (AP1), wanted to attract KLM to open direct flights there, and that the information was revealed in a meeting between AP1 SOC and the Indonesian Travel Agents Association (ASITA).

OK, being in the historic part of Central Java, one could understand why KLM might be interested, especially since Solo is next to the more famous Jogjakarta.

But something is funny or not right when you read:



"Saya dapat informasi bahwa KLM itu ingin terbang ke Bandara Ngurah Rai, Bali. Tapi, katanya di Ngurah Rai itu sudah penuh. Maka, kami mencoba menawarkan untuk masuk ke Solo, nanti dari Solo ke Bali bisa menggunakan maskapai domestik,” terang Usman.



GM AP1 Adi Soemarmo (Solo) Abdullah Usman said, "I received information that KLM wants to fly to Bali and that Bali airport is full. We are giving them an offer to fly to Solo, and the Solo-Bali connection can be provided by a domestic carrier."

He then went on further: 

"I also received information today that Pacific Royale will open the Solo-Bali route. I confirmed this with the Directorate General of Air Transportation, and (discussed) how to synchronize the plans of KLM and Pacific Royale."


Here is the problem:
1. KLM is already flying to Bali on a daily basis (KL835/836) using their Boeing 777-300ER
2. KLM is a member of SkyTeam.
3. Garuda is committed to join SkyTeam.
4. Pacific Royale, hasn't even started flying when I wrote this article.


Isn't obvious that even if KLM end up flying to Solo (which I think is unlikely) that KLM would ask Garuda to provide domestic connections rather than Pacific Royale?


So, who's pulling legs here? AP1? ASITA? KLM? Pacific Royale? Or... SoloPos?


I could forgive everyone if the article was written on 1st April 2012, but I do wish these people would use Google more often! Otherwise, this could be another case of truth gone bad because it wasn't conveyed correctly.

Is this why Garuda picked the CRJ1000NG?

When Garuda finally selected the CRJ1000NG over the E190 in February, many were surprised. The initial reason for the selection was "reasons other than technical," and obviously this raised many eyebrows.

The E190 offered better cabin volume, better cabin height, and very good economics. Economics however has been at the center of the CRJ vs Ejets debate by proponents of both sides, with CRJ1000NG claiming better economics. But having known the Airbus vs Boeing debates, we know that the cheapest costs may not always be the best because cost is only one part of the equation, the other being revenue potential. So why would an airline so focused at improving the passenger experience select a cramped little aircraft with a smaller cabin volume and space per passenger, and smaller baggage hold volume per passenger when compared with the E190? Bear in mind that this aircraft is also to replace the ageing 737-500!

If my memory serves me right, at the recent IAFS Airlines Day seminar, Garuda admitted that the CRJ1000NG selection has raised concerns about comfort amongst its Frequent Flier airline dialogue group (consisting of a small group of the airline's most frequent flier customers). So why? Garuda pointed out that more point-to-point opportunities were very big reasons why, favourable delivery slots has been cited, but someone from Embraer who also attended the seminar quickly pointed out to me that there are only two other CRJ1000NG operators in the world (Iberia group's Air Nostrum, and Air France group's Brit Air), and the CRJ family customer base in Asia is much smaller than the Ejets, and that the selection can quickly become a very big mistake (the Embraer guy even said even waiting for the 737-600/-700 or A318/319 (due to delivery slots), or even waiting for the C-series might actually be better if Garuda was so adamant in not selecting the Ejets).

I left the seminar wondering why... perhaps this video is the real reason why...

Ridiculous? Well, of course, but this IS Indonesia, and if the real reason why they chose the CRJ1000NG is because one can push it back after engine start with pure muscle power, I would not be surprised. After all, the aircraft would be sent to places where Garuda might never have had any previous jet presence whatsoever.


If you cannot see the humour in this parody, well, sorry!

Mandala is back, as a ghost of its past

Today Mandala returned to the skies. The return was celebrated in Jakarta's Terminal 3 today. While I am happy to see Mandala return, I feel something is missing... Mandala itself.

Let's look at the big board used as the stage background of the celebration. It doesn't say "return" or "comeback", but, "first flight".

"Penerbangan perdana" = maiden flight
Mandala's history seems to have been erased.
Photo by Capt D.A.

The Mandala brand itself is limited to the name only. "Book on TigerAirways.com".

As noted in the previous blog entry "Mandala returning and buries its legend", the Mandala livery is definitely gone.

The livery, Tiger Tail with Mandala titles
Photo by: Capt. D.A.

It is now confirmed that the cabin crew livery has no resemblance to the old Mandala, except for small embroidered words "Mandala".

Tiger Uniform for Mandala FAs, where are the "Mandala" lettering?

It seems that the only reason that the name Mandala is kept is for it's AOC only as the DGCA refused to accept the name change.

So, Mandala returned in name, no body, no spirit. It is a ghost remaining in this world by its AOC only. But I hope this little Tiger survive!

Innovative Cabin Concept by Alma Design

How can you have a natural aura in a business aircraft cabin mixed with the latest innovation in technology? The design concept by Portugal's Alma Design is probably the most interesting attempt. I ran into them during the conference before the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg last week, and I found their concept so interesting, I just had to catch up with them during the Exhibition days and did an on-the-spot interview for fun, mainly aimed at my Indonesian audience to see the interesting stuff that is going around in the civil aviation industry.

The concept made it to the finals at the 2012 Crystal Cabin Awards in the Innovative Cabin Design Concept category, amongst big names such as Zodiac and Diehl Aerospace.

These guys won. They were very busy the next day with visitors and the media, but I managed to catch them for a few moments for the photo at the end of the video. 

Apologies to the award ceremony host, Mary Kirby, if I caused a delay to the start (but I think she got her revenge on my later in the day, but that's another story!).

Didn't follow my Twitter? OK, I'm still here!

I must apologize for not writing as of late. I am on my last week in my "3 weeks of hell", with the Asia Pacific Defence Expo in Jakarta on 21-23 March, then I was off to Hamburg on 24 March, to attend the Aircraft Interiors Conference on 26 March, followed by the Aircraft Interiors Expo on 27-29 March, where I flew straight back to attend a friend's wedding in Jakarta. And I still have "Indonesian Aviation Forum Series 2012 - Airlines Day" tomorrow for two days.

For those who have been following my Twitter will know what I am up to.

The Aircraft Interiors Expo this year is a lot of fun and a lot of work. I hope I will be writing more on this over the coming days and weeks, with some nice developments on the Jakarta end of my work.