Xpress Air was an Indonesian domestic regular airline that offered direct flights to the eastern parts of Indonesia, with its first flight in 2005, and from 2014 international routes to Malaysia. Beginning with two Boeing 737s, Xpress Air was the first privately owned, scheduled airline to connect Jakarta to 24 domestic destinations like Makassar (formerly known as Ujung Pandang), Ternate, Sorong, Manokwari and Jayapura. Makassar was a main hub for all flights coming from Java to the eastern cities of Indonesia, while Sorong was a second hub in Papua, connecting remote places surrounding the West Papua area. The airline ceased all operations in 2021.
History Express Air began commercial operations between Jayapura and Jakarta on June 23, 2003. The airline had grown to become one of the major airlines in eastern Indonesia. Xpress Air was done several major fleet expansion to serve more destinations along West-East Papua axis, Sulawesi, Maluku and Nusa Tenggara region. The vision to also offer routes to the western regions has been met as Xpress Air has connecting people to Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Pontianak and more.
In 2012, Xpress Air adopted a new branding name (from Express Air to Xpress Air to represent a more modern and customer-friendly airline), a new strategy, and a new slogan, "Terbanglah Indonesia", maintaining the culture and tradition of a friendly airline with new, modern advancements and motivation.
In 2021 the airline ceased all operations.
Destinations Destinations at time of closure
Balikpapan - Sepinggan International Airport Bandar Lampung - Radin Inten II International Airport Banjarbaru - Syamsudin Noor International Airport Banyuwangi - Banyuwangi International Airport Batam - Hang Nadim International Airport Berau - Berau Airport Dabo - Dabo Airport Fakfak - Fakfak Torea Airport Sentani - Sentani International Airport Matak - Matak Airport Malinau - Robert Atty Bessing Airport Manokwari - Rendani Airport Nunukan - Nunukan Airport Palembang - Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport Pangkalan Bun - Iskandar Airport Pontianak - Supadio International Airport Ranai - Ranai Airport Samarinda - Samarinda International Airport Semarang - Ahmad Yani International Airport Surakarta - Adisumarmo International Airport Tanjung Pinang - Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport - hub Yogyakarta - Adisutjipto International Airport
Terminated destinations before closure
Bandung - Husein Sastranegara International Airport Jakarta - Soekarno Hatta International Airport Makassar - Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport Padang - Minangkabau International Airport Pekanbaru - Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport Sleman - Adisucipto International Airport
Johor Bahru - Senai International Airport Kuching - Kuching International Airport Melaka - Melaka International Airport Miri - Miri International Airport
Fleet
Last active fleet As of early 2021 the Xpress Air fleet consisted of the following aircraft:
+ Xpress Air fleetAircraftIn fleetOrderPassengersNotesATR 42-3002—42Boeing 737-3001—149Dornier 328-1103—32Total6—
Retired fleet before closure The airline previously operated the following aircraft:
5 Boeing 737-200 (one preserved in Museum Angkut, Batu) 6 Dornier 328 1 Dornier 328JET 1 Boeing 737-500
Incidents On 6 November 2008, a Dornier 328 that was in service for only six weeks with Express Air had a hard landing at Fakfak Airport. All 36 passengers and crew survived. On June 14, 2009, an Express Air Dornier 328 swerved off the runway at Tanahmerah Airport and skidded into an earthen mound. This resulted in substantial damage to the right engine and propeller. On 13 May 2013, an Express Air Boeing 737-200 experienced a technical engine problem. The aircraft later landed at Jayapura safely.
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