TransNusa is an airline headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia. 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. Due to a change in strategy, the airline has since been aligning itself closer to a full-service carrier.
History
Launch and early years (2005–2011) TransNusa undertook its first commercial flight on August 4, 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.Indonesian language-TranNusa website, Business Development News August 2005, accessed 1 October 2010 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.Jakarta Post-Juvenille Jodjana: Developing Nusa Tenggara via airline business, Lily Glorida Nababan, 11 December 2008, accessed 1 October 2010
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. 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 three times a week. In October 2007, TransNusa established the first implementation of airline e-ticketing in East Nusa Tenggara.Indonesian language-TranNusa website, Business Development News August 2007 to November 2007, accessed 1 October 2010 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.http://www.mandalaair.com/docs/press/a8546810-bff5-44a3-998c-00191da114b5.pdf Mandala Press release=Fly the biggest airlines in 'East Nusa Tenggara' (NTT) Mandala signs an agreement with TransNusa including route connection list and aircraft operators, 10 September 2008, accessed 1 October 2010
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.BAE Systems Press Release, 1 December 2009, Further BAE Systems Bae 146 success in Indonesia, accessed 1 October 2010BAE Systems Press Release, 9 April 2010, Indonesian Market Proves Attractive For BAE Systems Regional Jets, accessed 1 October 2010 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.TransNusa-News November 2009, accessed 1 October 2010 TransNusa-News 29 May 2009, TransNusa Datangkan Pesawat ATR-42, accessed 1 October 2010 In 2010, TransNusa offered connections into the Sriwijaya Air network to link directly with flights from Kupang to Surabaya and Jakarta.TransNusa-Business development, June 2010, accessed 1 October 2010 TransNusa Air Services-About us Accessed 19.9.2010
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.Berhenti Beroperasi Sementara, Dirut TransNusa Beberkan Alasan Sebenarnya!, accessed 2 December 2021
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.TransNusa Official Instagram, accessed 2 December 2021 The airline reapplied for an Air Operator's certificate and conducted proving flights in February 2022.TransNusa Baru Bisa terbang Lagi Tahun Depan, accessed 2 December 2021
In early 2022, the airline, now backed and part-owned by the China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) (indirect subsidiary of China Everbright Group), announced that it will be operating a mixed fleet of Airbus A320neos and Comac ARJ21s, making TransNusa the first foreign operator of the latter aircraft.
On 6 October 2022, TransNusa officially relaunched with a flight between Jakarta and Denpasar. 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. In April 2025, the airline transitioned into a medium service carrier; this resulted in the offering of complimentary light snacks and baggage allowance on domestic flights, in line with the requirements for a medium service airline as stipulated by the Indonesian government.
Destinations The airline has disclosed that it will focus on flying between larger airports rather than revive its former inter-island network.
, TransNusa flies (or has flown) to the following destinations. Country City Airport Notes RefsAustraliaMelbourneMelbourne AirportPerthPerth AirportChinaGuangzhouGuangzhou Baiyun International Airport GuiyangGuiyang Longdongbao International AirportCharterNanjingNanjing Lukou International AirportCharterShanghaiShanghai Pudong International AirportShenzhenShenzhen Bao'an International AirportEast TimorDiliPresidente Nicolau Lobato International AirportIndonesiaAmbonPattimura AirportAlorAlor Island AirportAtambuaA. A. Bere Tallo Airport BajawaBajawa Soa AirportBalikpapanSultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan AirportBandar LampungRadin Inten II AirportBandungHusein Sastranegara AirportBanjarmasinSyamsudin Noor International AirportBau BauBetoambari AirportBerauKalimarau AirportBimaSultan Muhammad Salahudin AirportDenpasarNgurah Rai International Airport EndeH. Hasan Aroeboesman AirportJakartaSoekarno–Hatta International AirportKendariHaluoleo AirportKupangEl Tari AirportKolakaSangia Nibandera AirportKotabaruGusti Syamsir Alam AirportLabuan BajoKomodo International AirportLarantukaGewayantana AirportLewolebaWonopito AirportLombokLombok International Airport LuwukSyukuran Aminuddin Amir AirportMakassarSultan Hasanuddin International AirportMamujuTampa Padang AirportManadoSam Ratulangi International AirportMaumereFrans Xavier Seda AirportMorowaliMaleo AirportPalangkarayaTjilik Riwut AirportPalopoBua AirportPaluMutiara SIS Al-Jufrie AirportRutengFrans Sales Lega AirportSelayarH. Aroeppala AirportSemarangJenderal Ahmad Yani International AirportSingkawangSingkawang Airport SorongDomine Eduard Osok Airport Sumbawa BesarSultan Muhammad Kaharuddin III AirportSurabayaJuanda International AirportTambolakaLede Kalumbang AirportTana TorajaPongtiku AirportTarakanJuwata AirportTernateSultan Babullah Airport TimikaMozes Kilangin Airport Toli ToliSultan Bantilan AirportWaingapuUmbu Mehang Kunda Airport WakatobiMatahora Airport YogyakartaAdisutjipto AirportYogyakarta International Airport MalaysiaJohor BahruSenai International AirportKuala LumpurKuala Lumpur International Airport Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport PenangPenang International Airport SingaporeSingaporeChangi Airport TaiwanTaipeiTaoyuan International AirportCharterThailandBangkokSuvarnabhumi Airport PhuketPhuket International Airport
Services
TransNusa offers options to buy on board during the flight, offering food, drinks, merchandise and duty free for purchase on the aircraft. Light snacks provided on a complimentary basis have been introduced on domestic flights following the airline's transition into a medium service carrier.
Fleet
Current fleet , TransNusa operates the following aircraft:
+ TransNusa fleetAircraftIn fleetOrdersPassengersNotesAirbus A3207—174Airbus A3213—195Comac C90952590First international operator.Total1525
Former fleet , TransNusa operated 5 Airbus A320, 2 Airbus A321 and 6 Comac C909.
The airline also previously operated: 1 ATR 42-500 6 ATR 72-600 1 Fokker 50 1 Fokker 70 1 Airbus A320neo
Incidents and accidents On 4 April 2016, a TransNusa ATR 42-600, that was being towed from one part of Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta to another, was involved in a collision with a Batik Air Boeing 737. The Boeing 737 was on its takeoff roll when its wingtip sliced the tail off the ATR 42-600 while it was being towed across the runway. The Boeing 737's wing then caught on fire. There were no fatalities in the accident.
References
Notes
External links Official website