Batik Air to Use 13 New Aircraft This Year to Serve Indonesia’s Eastern Region

Jakarta Globe, Eko Adityo Nugroho, Jul 21, 2014

A Batik Air aircraft at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport’s Terminal 3
in Jakarta on April 25, 2013. (JG Photo/Safir Makki)

Jakarta. Batik Air, a full-service carrier unit of Lion Air group, will use 13 new aircraft this year, adding to the six planes it operates now to boost service to Indonesia’s eastern region.

The 13 aircraft will be composed of seven Airbus A320-200 and six Boeing 737-800, said Achmad Lutfie, the president director at Batik.

“With the arrival of 13 new planes, by the end of this year, our fleet will consist of 19 planes,” he said recently.

The planes will gradually arrive starting from August until the end of the year. Batik Air now flies six 737-900ER aircraft.

Achmad said Batik will add some flights to some existing routes as well as adding new ones.

”For example, the Ujung Pandang [Makassar, South Sulawesi province]-Ternate [Maluku island] route will be increased from two to five flights a day. For the opening of some new routes, those include Ujung Pandang–Timika [Papua]. This, however, still awaits permits from the Transportation Ministry,” he said.

Apart from few competition and limited flight slots, the route to Indonesia’s eastern territory is expected to increase, along with the economic growth in the region and the rising demand for business trips as well as tourism trips, Achmad said. Average capacity ratio on its planes from Jakarta, starting from early in the morning, is up to 90 percent, he added.

Apart from domestic route expansion, Batik Air also plans to expand into regional flights, such as setting up a Jakarta-Singapore route before the end of this year. This plan also awaits approval from regulators of both countries.

“Singapore is still a popular destination. Should the permits be issued, we plan to fly five times a day,” said Achmad.

Batik Air, catering to more affluent consumers, launched its first service in May last year with the debut route of Jakarta-Manado [North Sulawesi].

Full service means the ticket fare includes meals, baggage and other facilities like inflight entertainment and telecommunication services.