Comac’s ARJ21-700 regional jet officially made its overseas debut on Tuesday with the first revenue flight by Indonesian carrier TransNusa Aviation from Jakarta to Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, marking the start of commercial operations.
Headquartered in Jakarta, TransNusa took delivery of its first ARJ21 last December, effectively becoming the first operator of the type outside China. Preparations for acquiring the narrowbody began in 2016 after China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) placed a firm order for 30 ARJ21s with an option to purchase 30 more. At the time, the Chinese lessor signaled intent to support an unnamed Indonesia-based operator through acquisition, investment, and aircraft leasing to build an all-ARJ21 fleet.
“As part of its support for [Indonesia’s tourism] program, TransNusa has introduced ARJ21 aircraft suitable for the Southeast Asian market,” said TransNusa’s CEO, Bernard Francis, in a statement. “With the best configuration to meet the market demand, we believe that the ARJ21 aircraft can well serve the huge aviation market in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, providing passengers with high-quality air travel options.”
In September 2019, Indonesian and Chinese regulators established a working arrangement to support type validation and continued airworthiness for the ARJ21. Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation granted the narrowbody a type certificate in February 2022.
In December 2019, TransNusa signed a cooperation agreement with CALC over fleet support, aircraft asset management, and maintenance. In March 2020, CALC acquired a 35.68 percent stake in TransNusa via a $28 million subscription agreement with Aviation Synergy—a Cayman Islands-incorporated company that owns Singapore-based Naga Pacific Holdings, which in turn owns 49 percent of TransNusa.
“We are full of confidence in the performance of [the] ARJ21 aircraft, the operation service support system in Indonesia, and the development prospects of China’s aviation industry chain,” added CALC deputy CEO Liu Wanting.
Seating 95 passengers in an all-economy-class layout, TransNusa’s ARJ21 came under the terms of an order placed with CALC in January 2021 for 30 of the type. Comac plans to stagger deliveries of the remaining jets up to 2026.
“The first flight marks the first ARJ21 aircraft in Indonesia [and] officially opens the new voyage of international market operations,” said Comac deputy general manager Wu Yongliang. “Comac will make every effort to provide aircraft operation support and various service guarantees, and work with TransNusa to provide passengers with a more comfortable air experience, helping Indonesia’s air traffic network construction and air transport market development.”
Speaking with Malaysian media, TransNusa’s Francis hinted at building an ASEAN-based facility to support ARJ21 expansion plans, naming Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore as possible hosts. While TransNusa is the first foreign operator in the region to throw support behind the ARJ21 program, the CAAC has moved to promote the narrowbody among ASEAN regulators, including visiting Cambodia in 2019.