Merpati Nusantara Airlines

Last updated

Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Merpati logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
MZMNAMERPATI
Founded
  • 6 September 1962 (first Merpati)
  • 11 November 2019 (re-launch Merpati)
Commenced operations6 September 1962 (first Merpati)
Ceased operations
  • 1 February 2014 (first Merpati)
  • June 2022 (license revoked for re-launch Merpati)
  • 20 February 2023 (dissolved)
Hubs Ngurah Rai International Airport
Juanda International Airport
Focus cities Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
Subsidiaries Merpati Maintenance Facility
Fleet size39
Destinations84
Parent company Government of Indonesia
Headquarters Surabaya, Indonesia
Key peopleCapt. Asep Ekanugraha - CEO
Website www.merpati.co.id

PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines, operating as Merpati Nusantara Airlines, was an airline in Indonesia based in Central Jakarta, Jakarta. It operated scheduled domestic services to more than 25 destinations in Indonesia, as well as scheduled international services to East Timor and Malaysia. The word merpati is Indonesian for "dove", and Nusantara is a Javanese word found in the Pararaton ("the Book of Kings", probably written in the 16th century) meaning "the outer islands", referring to the Indonesian archipelago. The airline was based at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta. [1] It also maintained both a maintenance and simulator facility at Juanda International Airport, Surabaya. [2] The Merpati Training Centre at Surabaya housed Fokker F-27, AVIC MA60 and CN-235 full motion simulators.

Contents

All services were suspended in 2014 due to financial and regulatory issues. After 8 years of failing to negotiate the airlines relaunch and obtain funding, all operating licenses and certificates were permanently revoked and the airline was dissolved on 20 February 2023. [3]

History

A Merpati Nusantara Vickers Vanguard 953 in 1977 Merpati Nusantara Vickers 953 Vanguard Fitzgerald.jpg
A Merpati Nusantara Vickers Vanguard 953 in 1977

With a start-up capital of 10 million rupiah, Merpati began operations in Kalimantan, using a fleet of four de Havilland Otter/DHC-3s and two DC-3 Dakotas provided by the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU). Pilots and technicians were supplied by the Indonesian Air Force, Garuda Indonesia Airways, and other civil aviation companies. Its mission, defined by the government, was to become an 'air bridge' linking remote areas of Indonesia and thereby helping to build the economies of such regional areas. The air bridge theme is the basis of the current Merpati logo, displayed on the tails of its aircraft.

The first Managing Director appointed was Air Commodore Sutoyo Adiputro Henk (1962–1966) who had an initial staff of 17 people. In 1963, the airline expanded its routes to include Jakarta - Tanjung Karang (Bandar Lampung), Jakarta - Semarang, and Jakarta - Balikpapan. In 1964, the airline took over operations from NV de Kroonduif Garuda, increasing its aircraft fleet to 12. With the addition of three DC-3 Dakotas, two DHC-6 Twin Otters and 1 DHC-2 Beaver, Merpati began to grow, with operations now reaching Sumatra, Papua and Nusa Tenggara Barat. Further expansion saw the addition of more aircraft, including three Dornier DO-28s and six Pilatus Porter PC-6s, and staff numbers growing to 583 people.

The airline was jointly owned by the Indonesian Government (93.2%) and Garuda Indonesia (6.8%).

In June 2011, the Merpati commercial director stated that the airline was opening a tender for 15 jet airliners, including 40 aircraft with a capacity of 50 passengers and 20 additional aircraft carrying 20 passengers, such as the MA-60, the NC-212 or DHC-6 Twin Otter. [4] The following month, with the airline suffering from financial difficulties, the government and the legislature agreed to provide a capital injection of Rp.516 billion ($60.7 million) to Merpati Nusantara Airlines in the 2012 state budget. [5]

In February 2014, due to the airline's inability to pay its employees salary or benefits for three consecutive months, many pilots and cabin crew resigned. [6] The same month, Merpati suspended all services due to cashflow problems, including an inability to obtain fuel on credit, obliging the company to pay cash. [7] On 24 July 2014 it was reported that the Indonesian Ministry of Finance had decided not to reopen the company following the airline's accumulating a debt of 7.9 trillion Rp, as well as the failure of a debt-to-equity-swap plan proposed by the company. [8]

In late 2016 the Ministry of State Owned Enterprises stated that the airline might be able to resume commercial flights in 2017 following a restructuring plan and government cash injection. [9]

On 14 November 2018, The Panel of Judges of the Commercial Court decided to approve the peace proposal of PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines with its creditors held at the District Court (PN), Surabaya, East Java. Thus, PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines was declared not bankrupt. [10]

However, by June 2022, The New Merpati has been presumed no longer return and the airline license has been permanently revoked by the government. Thus, Merpati's obligations to third parties, such as severance pay to former employees, will be settled by selling all of its assets through an auction mechanism.

Corporate affairs

The airline's headquarters were in Central Jakarta. [11] [12] Previously, the airline had been based out of Kemajoran Airport. [13]

Destinations

Fleet

Previous fleet

The Merpati fleet included the following aircraft prior to its suspension (as of January 2014): [14]

Merpati's Boeing 737-200/adv at Adisucipto International Airport, Yogyakarta. Merpati732.jpg
Merpati's Boeing 737-200/adv at Adisucipto International Airport, Yogyakarta.
Merpati's MA60, PK-MZJ parked at El Tari Airport, Kupang, in January 2011 PK-MZJ-MA60.JPG
Merpati's MA60, PK-MZJ parked at El Tari Airport, Kupang, in January 2011
As of 2011, Merpati no longer operates the ATR 72-200 since the arrival of its newer MA60. MZATR72.jpg
As of 2011, Merpati no longer operates the ATR 72-200 since the arrival of its newer MA60.
Merpati Nusantara Airlines Final Fleet
AircraftIn FleetOrdersPassengersRoutesNotes
CYTotal
Boeing 737-300 3—8126134Domestic
Boeing 737-400 2—16142158All
Boeing 737-500 1—0118118All
Comac ARJ21-700 0400118118—
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 5—02020Domestic
Xian MA60 14—05656Domestic
Total2540Last updated: March 2014
Merpati Nusantara Airlines re-launch Fleet
AircraftIn FleetOn OrderPassengersRoutesNotes
CYTotal
Airbus A320neo 010TBAUnknown
Airbus A321neo 08TBAUnknown
Irkut MC-21 010+TBAUnknownOrdered by PT Intra Asia Corpora. [15]

Fleet development

In 2012, Merpati announced that it would take delivery of Airbus A320 aircraft in 2014 but, due to cash problems, this proposal was abandoned. Through a restructuring plan and government cash injection, Merpati hoped to relaunch its operations by the end of 2017 or early 2018, most likely using Boeing 737-700 or Boeing 737-800 aircraft. However, this plan was aborted as the airline decided to order other aircraft types instead.

In 2018 Merpati Nusantara signed a letter of intent for 10 Irkut MC-21-300 aircraft. [16]

Former fleet

Merpati Lockheed TriStar at Perth Airport (late 1990s). Merpati Lockheed TriStar PER Wheatley.jpg
Merpati Lockheed TriStar at Perth Airport (late 1990s).
Merpati Airbus A310-300 at Perth Airport (late 1990s). Merpati Airbus A310-300 PER Wheatley.jpg
Merpati Airbus A310-300 at Perth Airport (late 1990s).

Merpati Training Center

Merpati Training Center is a division of strategic business unit and is one of the largest aviation training centres in Indonesia. It conducts ground school courses for pilots, flight attendants, flight operation officers (dispatchers), commercial airline operations and administration staff in the region. The training centre was founded in 1994 and known as 'Flight Safety Training' training initially Merpati's own staff, but later changed its name to the Merpati Training Center (MTC) in 1999. Some of MTC's clients include the national airline, Garuda Indonesia, Sriwijaya Air, Batavia Air, Lion Air, and Pelita Air Service, among others.

Courses conducted by the MTC include type rating courses for pilots, flight attendants and flight operation officers on the Boeing 737 Classic, AVIC Xian MA60, Fokker F27, CASA CN-235, DHC-6 Twin Otter, CASA C-212 Aviocar, as well as other ground courses including Dangerous Goods Awareness, Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) theory, Cockpit Resources Management (CRM), Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM), Approach and Landing Accident Reduction (ALAR), Safety Management Systems (SMS), Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Windshear Avoidance.

MTC has two campuses, located in Jakarta and Surabaya. MTC's Jakarta campus is located on 11th Floor of the Merpati Building in Kemayoran, whereas the Surabaya campus is located at Juanda International Airport.

Merpati Pilot School

Merpati Pilot School's Cessna 172, PK-MSH at Juanda International Airport, Surabaya PK-MSH.JPG
Merpati Pilot School's Cessna 172, PK-MSH at Juanda International Airport, Surabaya

On 16 February 2010, the Merpati Pilot School, a department of the MTC, was officially launched at Surabaya's Juanda International Airport. The flying school was awarded its Part 141 certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on 18 August 2009 and currently has a fleet of four Cessna C172s, registered PK-MSA, PK-MSH, PK-MSN and PK-MST. Ground school for cadet pilots are conducted at the Merpati Training Centre in Surabaya, and flight training is conducted from Budiarto Airport, Curug (near Jakarta) as well as Trunojoyo Airport, Sumenep on the island of Madura. Flight Instructors at Merpati Pilot School are all current line pilots with Merpati Nusantara Airlines each with thousands of hours' flying experience.

Accidents and incidents

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Gabon</span>

Air Gabon was the national, state-owned airline of Gabon, operating out of Libreville International Airport to a variety of destinations across western and southern Africa, as well as to Europe. Founded in 1951, the airline went bankrupt in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameroon Airlines</span> Defunct flag carrier from Cameroon

Cameroon Airlines was an airline from Cameroon, serving as flag carrier of the country. Based in Douala, it operated scheduled services within Africa, as well as to Europe and the Middle East out of its hub at Douala International Airport, with a second network focus on Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport. The company was 96.43 percent state-owned, with the remaining shares having been held by Air France. It ceased operations in March 2008; its role as Cameroon's flag carrier was taken over by Camair-Co. The company slogan was French: Pour mieux vous servir, To serve you better.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xi'an MA60</span> Regional airliner by Xian

The Xi'an MA60 is a turboprop-powered airliner produced by China's Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The MA60 is a stretched version of the Xi'an Y7-200A, which was produced based on the An-24 to operate in rugged conditions with limited ground support and has short take-off and landing (STOL) capability.

Sempati Air was an airline based in Indonesia. Partially owned by friends and family of President Suharto of Indonesia, the airline ceased operations due to bankruptcy after its owner Suharto's May 1998 presidential resignation. Its IATA code has since been reassigned to SpiceJet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Ratulangi International Airport</span> Airport in Manado, Indonesia

Sam Ratulangi International Airport Manado, is located in North Sulawesi, 13 kilometres north-east of Manado. The airport is named after the Minahasan educator and independence hero Sam Ratulangi (1890–1949). It is designated as one of the 11 main entry ports to Indonesia by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of Indonesia, and serves as the main gateway to the Bunaken National Marine Park. It is currently the operating base of Lion Air and Wings Air for the north-eastern part of Indonesia, and serving international scheduled flights to several destinations in Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garuda Indonesia Flight 152</span> Aviation accident in Sibolangit, Indonesia, killing 234

Garuda Indonesia Flight 152 (GA152/GIA152) was a scheduled domestic flight operated by Garuda Indonesia from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, to Polonia International Airport, Medan, in Indonesia. On 26 September 1997, the aircraft flying the route crashed into mountainous woodlands near the village of Buah Nabar, Sibolangit, killing all 222 passengers and 12 crew members on board. It is the deadliest aviation disaster in Indonesia's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Tari International Airport</span> Airport in Kupang, Indonesia

El Tari Airport, formerly Penfui Airport, is an airport in Kupang on the island of Timor in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The airport is named after El Tari (1926–1978), the governor of East Nusa Tenggara from 1966 to 1978. The airport's ICAO code was changed from WRKK to WATT in 2004. As of December 2018, there were at least 258 outbound flights per week from the airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport</span> Airport in East Java , Indonesia

Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport is a small class 1 commercial airport serving Malang, the second largest city in East Java province of Indonesia. This airport is named after Abdoel Rachman Saleh (1909–1947), an Indonesian aviator and physiologist whose aircraft was shot down by the Dutch while landing in Maguwo Airfield, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, during the Indonesian National Revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rendani Airport</span> Airport in Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia

Rendani Airport is an airport in Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia. It is one of the largest and busiest airports in West Papua. The airport has a one runway designated 17/35 with an asphalt surface measuring 2000 by 45 meters, a new terminal, cargo building and larger apron were finished in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Air Flight 172</span> 2007 aviation incident

Adam Air Flight 172 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Soekarno–Hatta International Airport to Juanda Airport, Surabaya. On 21 February 2007, the Boeing 737-300 operating the flight made a hard landing at Surabaya and suffered fuselage cracking in the middle of the passenger section. All six of Adam Air's remaining 737s were immediately grounded, and five of them were back in regular service later that year. This incident caused further concerns regarding the safety of flights operated by Adam Air, which had received much criticism after the 1 January 2007 crash of Flight 574.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kemayoran Airport</span> Former airport of Jakarta, Indonesia (1940–1985)

Kemayoran Airport also spelled Kemajoran Airport, was the principal airport for Jakarta, Indonesia, from 8 July 1940 until 31 March 1985, when it was replaced by Soekarno–Hatta International Airport.

Trigana Air is an airline based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

This is a list of aviation-related events from 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 9760D</span> 2009 aviation accident

Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 9760D was a domestic commercial passenger 50-minutes flight, flying from Sentani Airport in Papua's Province Jayapura to Oksibil Airport in Oksibil, Indonesia operated by a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300. On Sunday, August 2, 2009, while carrying fifteen people over Papua, the aircraft went missing en route. Its wreckage was found a few miles from Oksibil two days later. All 12 passengers and 3 crew members were killed in the accident.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 836</span> 2010 aviation accident

Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 836 was a scheduled domestic flight between Sorong and Manokwari, Indonesia. On 13 April 2010, the flight, operated by Boeing 737-300 PK-MDE, overran the runway on landing. The aircraft broke into three pieces. All people on board survived, although 44 suffered injuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 8968</span> 2011 aviation accident

Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 8968 (MZ8968/MNA8968) was a passenger flight which crashed off the coast of the Indonesian province of West Papua on 7 May 2011. The aircraft involved, a Xian MA60, was operating Merpati Nusantara Airlines' scheduled domestic service from Sorong to Kaimana, both in West Papua. It crashed into the sea while on approach to Kaimana in heavy rain condition, about 800 metres (2,600 ft) before the runway. All 25 people on board the aircraft perished. It was the first fatal crash of the Xian MA60 aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 724</span> 1993 aviation accident

Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 724 (MZ724/MNA724) was a scheduled domestic passenger flight operated by Merpati Nusantara Airlines from Pattimura Airport in Maluku's provincial capital Ambon to Jefman Airport in Sorong, Irian Jaya ; both in Indonesia. On 1 July 1993, the aircraft operating the flight, a Fokker F28 Fellowship 3000 registered as PK-GFU, crashed into the sea after it struck a small hill near Jefman Airport. Forty-one people were killed in the crash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 6517</span> 2013 aviation incident

Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 6517 (MZ6517/MNA6517) was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Bajawa to Kupang, Indonesia. On 10 June 2013, the Xian MA60 twin turboprop operating the route crashed on the runway while landing at Kupang's El Tari Airport, injuring 25 occupants, five seriously. The aircraft was severely damaged in the impact and subsequently written off.

References

  1. ↑ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International . 10 April 2007. p. 49.
  2. ↑ "MMF International". 110.139.63.237. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Hikam, Herdi Alif Al. "Tamat! Merpati Airlines dan Kertas Leces Dibubarkan Jokowi". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "Merpati relies on MA60 to be the 'Bridge of the Archipelago' | The Jakarta Post". Archived from the original on 12 June 2011.
  5. ↑ Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "50 Merpati pilots resign over unpaid salaries". 7 February 2014.
  7. ↑ Camelia Pasandaran (3 February 2014). "Merpati Flights Grounded as Airline Struggles to Take Off Under Weight of Debt". The Jakarta Globe .
  8. ↑ developer, metrotvnews. "Waduh, Merpati Akan Ditutup".
  9. ↑ "Merpati Nusantara Airlines". Airliner World (December 2016): 19.
  10. ↑ "PPA: Maskapai Merpati Diputuskan Tak Pailit - Bisnis Liputan6.com". m.liputan6.com. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  11. ↑ "Directory: World airlines." Flight International . 30 March-5 April 2004. 39 (Archive). "Jalan Angkasa Blok B-15, Kav 2-3, Jakarta, 10720, Indonesia."
  12. ↑ "Merpati Akan Terbang ke Sampit Archived 18 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine ." Merpati Nusantara Airlines. 24 April 2007. Retrieved on 16 September 2010. "Penandatanganan MoU yang dilakukan di Kantor Pusat Merpati Jalan Angkasa Jakarta Pusat"
  13. ↑ Flight International . 6 May 1971. p. 636 (Archive). "Head Office: Djalan Patrice Lumumba, Kemajoran Airport, Djakarta, Indonesia."
  14. ↑ "Merpati". ch-aviation.ch. Archived from the original on 23 January 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  15. ↑ Subiantoro, Raydion. "Ini Dia Irkut MC-21, Pesawat Rusia yang akan Dipakai Merpati". news. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  16. ↑ "MC-21 Scores New Orders". Airliner World. October 2019: 17.
  17. ↑ "Kuwait Airways 9K-AHI (Airbus A300 - MSN 344) (Ex PK-MAY ) | Airfleets aviation". Airfleets.net. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  18. ↑ "Merpati Fleet of A310 (History) | Airfleets aviation". Airfleets.net. 23 March 1997. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  19. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  20. ↑ "PK-NDH Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  21. ↑ "PK-NDI Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  22. ↑ "DATABASE". knkt.dephub.go.id.
  23. ↑ "Aviation Safety Network Flight 422". Aviation-safety.net. 30 November 1994. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  24. ↑ "ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 PK-NUK Molo Strait". Aviation-safety.net. 10 January 1995. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  25. ↑ Hradecky, Simon. "Crash: Merpati DHC6 aircraft impacted mountain." Aviation Herald, 16 October 2009. Retrieved: 15 May 2010.
  26. ↑ "Merpati Air Plane Passengers Unharmed in Emergency Landing". Bernama. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  27. ↑ "Retrieved 10 Junde 2013". Aviation-safety.net. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.