TransNusa is an airline headquartered in
Jakarta,
Indonesia.[3] It was launched in August 2005, serving various destinations from Kupang,
Timor, using aircraft chartered from
Pelita Air and
Trigana Air Service. In August 2011, TransNusa received its own
air operator's certificate (AOC) and scheduled commercial airline permit, operating as a regional carrier. The airline relaunched in 2022 after briefly ceasing operations in 2020 as a result of the
COVID-19 Pandemic.[4] It was then sold to
China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC), (indirect subsidiary of
China Everbright Group) and was initially relaunched as a low-cost carrier.[5] Due to a change in strategy, the airline has since been aligning itself closer a full-service carrier.[6]
History
Launch and early years (2005-2011)
TransNusa undertook its first commercial flight on 4 August 2005 in co-operation with Trigana Air Service. Initial services were established to
Waingapu,
Tambolaka and
Lewoleba followed by routes to Alor, Ende,
Maumere, Ruteng serviced by a Trigana Air
ATR 42-300.[7] Subsequently, TransNusa agreed to further co-operative partnerships in Nusa Tenggara with
Riau Airlines using
Fokker 50s with a second Trigana supplied ATR 42 introduced in April 2006. In June, a
Boeing 737-200 was supplied on contract from Trigana to service the routes, Kupang to Denpasar to Surabaya and Kupang to Makassar. In late 2006, the 737 service was replaced by a Pelita Air
Fokker F28-4000.[8]
In March 2007, arrangements with
Mandala Airlines commenced with TransNusa acting both as a ticketing agent for Mandala at their office in Kupang and operating as a feeder service to the then-new Mandala
Airbus A320 service operating from Kupang airport. This connected TransNusa's
East Nusa Tenggara services into the Mandala Indonesian network through Jakarta and Surabaya. TransNusa commenced by block buying seats on the A320 services.[8] In August 2007, TransNusa entered into a route subsidy agreement with the
West Nusa Tenggara provincial government to provide services for the Mataram to Sumbawa and Mataram to Bima routes. The subsidised services were provided 3 times a week. In October 2007, TransNusa established the first implementation of airline e-ticketing in East Nusa Tenggara.[9]
TransNusa office in Labuan Bajo
By March 2008, TransNusa was operating 4 Fokker 50 turboprop aircraft in fleet co-operation arrangements with Riau Airlines. On 10 September 2008,
Mandala Airlines announced arrangements with TransNusa to supply further feeder services from Jakarta via Surabaya providing services to passengers through the Kupang hub, connecting to and from destinations including Ende, Sika, Bajawa, Lombok, Waingapu, Tambolaka, Labuan Bajo and Alor.[10]
In December 2009, charter airline
Aviastar took delivery of a second new
BAe 146-200 from
BAE Systems to be operated on behalf of TransNusa in a 98-seat all-economy layout. It was announced that the new aircraft was to be based at Denpasar Airport in Bali to operate to destinations in East Nusa Tenggara.[11][12] This aircraft complemented an ATR 42-300 aircraft acquired in a similar collaboration with
Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) for operations in East Nusa Tenggara originating from Kupang and serving the Maumere, Alor and Lewoleba routes. The ATR-42-300 aircraft also served airports in the region that have a relatively short runway, such as Larantuka, Rote, and Sabu. The co-operation with IAT grew the airline's ATR 42-300 fleet to four aircraft by the end of the year[13][14] In 2010, TransNusa offered connections into the Sriwijaya Air network to link directly with flights from Kupang to Surabaya and Jakarta.[15][16]
Independent operation and suspension of operations (2011-2020)
In 2011, TransNusa expanded into operating commercially scheduled flights through the procurement of its own aircraft and the obtaining of the 121 Regular Aviation Operation License issued by the Indonesian Civil Aviation Authority.
In 2017, TransNusa expanded its fleet when it introduced two brand new ATR 72-600s, followed by a further ATR 72-600 and ATR 42–500 the following year. By June 2019, TransNusa had in its fleet, seven ATR aircraft in its commercial fleet with a further three on order, complemented by a single BAe 146.
Impacted by the effects on the industry by the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline suspended operations in September 2020, which led to its fleet being transferred back to lessors.[17]
Relaunch (2021-present)
In November 2021, TransNusa announced through
Instagram that the airline intends to return operating, although as a low-cost carrier in place of its former regional model.[18][4] The airline reapplied for an Air Operator's certificate and conducted proving flights in February 2022.[19][20]
On 6 October 2022, TransNusa officially relaunched with a flight between Jakarta and Denpasar.[23] In February 2024, the airline announced a strategy change to reposition the airline into a "premium service carrier", claiming that it has implemented plans to differentiate the airline apart from other low-cost carriers.[6]
Destinations
The airline has disclosed that it will focus on flying between larger airports rather than revive its former inter-island network.[24]
As of April 2024, TransNusa flies between 11 destinations.[23]
TransNusa offers options to
buy on board during the flight, offering food, drinks, merchandise and duty free for purchase on the aircraft. However, no free items are offered on-board as the airline is a low-cost carrier. Pre-purchase of meals is available at a lower price than on board, and with additional options In accordance with
Shariah principles as Indonesia is a muslim country, it does not serve
alcohol or
pork.[citation needed]