Irish lessor AerCap has announced a deal to send two converted Boeing 737-800s to Rusky Aero Indonesia, a newly-launched cargo airline operating as Raindo United Services (Raindo).
Suryo Pratomo, Indonesia's ambassador to Singapore, attended the announcement ceremony along with the founders of Raindo and Emmanuel Herinckx, AerCap's head of leasing Asia Pacific.
The passenger-to-freighter conversions are to be carried out by Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services (BSAS), and Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering.
"We are very pleased to welcome Raindo as a new customer to AerCap and to lease them their very first aircraft," said Richard Greener, head of AerCap Cargo.
"We believe this strategic step will allow us to benefit the community, especially the MSME (micro, small, medium enterprises) industry in Indonesia, through the seamless and sustainable connectivity logistic delivery experience of Raindo United Services," said Benny Rustanto, founder of Raindo United Services.
Made up of around 17,000 islands stretching 3,000 miles from the Indian to Pacific Oceans, Indonesia depends heavily on sea and air transport to connect its far-flung archipelago and population of almost 300 million people, the world's fourth-biggest.
AerCap in January announced its 50th cargo-leasing deal for a converted Boeing, with Brazilian airline Gol.