TransNusa is all set to start its ARJ21 commercial operations with the potential destination of first flight to be Kuala Lumpur, sources claim. Interestingly this will also be TransNusa’s first international route. The airline received its first ARJ21 on December 2022 marking COMAC’s first overseas ARJ21 delivery.
In February 2023, the airline started proving flights, as the Indonesia's Civil Aviation Authority mandates completion of 100 hours of proving flights before introducing a new aircraft in commercial operations.
Speaking to local media, Bayu Sutanto, CEO, TransNusa said: “We were considering that some of the routes we would develop would also require an aircraft with less capacity than an A320. This type of aircraft is called a regional jet. Therefore, certain routes with less demand still need them. They don't need to be connecting, and the capacity is also not high."
"In the future, TransNusa will definitely be executing many flights to other routes and international routes. In the near future, we will start flying to Malaysia, that is, flying to Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. So, for our good friends of TransNusa who want to go to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore in a more affordable way through Johor Bahru, we will start these flights in April. Then from June or July, start to other countries, i.e., China, Hong Kong. We will also fly to Australia in August or September, flying to Perth, Darwin, Melbourne, and Sydney," Bayu added.
TransNusa also plans to conduct shuttle flights with ARJ21 in Indonesia
TransNusa currently operates a fleet of four Airbus A320 planes and one A320neo plane.