MANDALA AIRLINES will focus on international routes

This year, Mandala Airlines will give priority to the opening of the international route rather than opening domestic routes. Currently, Mandala Airlines has been serving local route from Jakarta to Medan and international route Medan – Singapore. On Friday (4/5), Mandala open a new route from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur.

Commissioner of Mandala Airlines, Diono Nurjadin, revealing the opening of new international routes will take priority rather than the opening of domestic routes. This decision is due to competition on international routes for airlines low cost carrier is not too tight as well as in domestic flights. "If domestic is already congested, especially our competitors already have a number of planes a lot, while we had three planes," said Diono.

Another reason why more focus on opening the international routes duet to ticket sales promotion of Mandala Airlines is easier because have a partner with Tiger Airways as one of the shareholders of Mandala Airlines. Diono said with this synergy it is easier to do promotions in overseas passengers since Tiger Airways has been known in Asia. "So we will also use Tiger Airways to link the promotion of Mandala Airlines," he added.

With this strategy, is optimistic his side can continue to increase the number of Mandala Airlines passengers on two international routes and one domestic route. "So with theses three routes, the passenger occupancy target is 80% to 84%," he said.

Regarding the new route from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur is open from Friday, Mandala Airlines will serve with a frequency of 14 flights per week. Expansion about the opening of new routes, Diono explained, that Mandala Airlines will open up international routes provided that the distance of not less than four to five hours. For example, to Hong Kong or India. This year Mandala Airlines will bring 7 new Airbus A320 aircraft. While currently only three aircraft that have been operated.

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MANDALA AIRLINES’s AOC will issued in Feberuary 2012

Ministry of Transportion ensure the return of Mandala Airlines flight conditions ie Air Operator Certificate (AOC) will issued in the second week in February 2012 and the airline is re-aired in April 2012.

"The delivery of Mandala Airlines AOC [Air Operators Certificate] planned to be done in the second week in February and in April 2012 operating plan," said Head of Public Communication Ministry of Transportation, Bambang S.Ervan.

He added the airline even begin to bring its first flight on Sunday (29/1) type Airbus 320.

"Technically, Mandala Airlines meets the requirements. They plan to fly in April, the aviation business license (SIUP) already extended four months from January 2012 for the maintenance of the AOC is in the final stage, "said Bambang.

Previously Director of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operation Ministry of Transportation, Diding Sunardi the reveals the process of issuing the Mandala Airlines AOC has entered the third stage or final stage, which is the middle of the process evaluation of the documents and related administrative procedures. That is, the time is not long, the AOC can be issued.

Separately, Director General of Civil Aviation Herry Bakti S. Gumay said the deadline for Mandala Airlines is still flying for granted an extension of up to four months post January 12, 2012.

"The extension of 4 months is still valid because the AOC was not finished," he said.

Herry add the AOC of Mandala Airlines is the third stage, so there are still two more stages. "If for the final process of AOC, should have the fifth stage," said Herry.

Devin Wirawan, Saratoga Capital Investment Managers, the majority shareholder of Mandala Airlines, it is ready to fly according to the deadlines set by the government. Mandala Airlines is now just waiting for the issuance of the AOC as a foundation to operate again.

About the readiness of the fleet, Devin said, Mandala Airlines will follow the provisions of the Act No.1 of 2009 on Aviation, which is 10 aircraft with five of them owned status. "It's two Airbus A320 to arrive in Indonesia as soon as AOC is published. If present in Indonesia there will be a parking fee, "he said.

The Mandala Airlines flight routes will not vary much with the previous route. Mandala Airlines had flown four domestic routes and 16 international routes, including Singapore. However, because the plane is still small, temporarily restricted Mandala Airlines will fly or not all the routes flown, the priority is to Singapore.

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MANDALA Airlines to operate before the end of this year

PT Mandala Airlines will resume operations before the end of this year's holiday. Funds needed for this plan to reach U.S. $ 250 million, which is to purchase five new aircraft and also rent  five planes.

"We are still identifying the plane. As soon as the existing permission from the government, we follow up. Fly before year-end holidays, so there is a solution offerings," said owner of Saratoga Group, Sandiaga Uno in Jakarta.

The fund has been prepared by Saratoga Group and Tiger Airways are both sourced from internal cash.

Sandiaga Uno said, the Airbus 737 will be the choice to fly back Mandala Airlines. "For the new Airbus 737 around U.S. $ 50 - U.S. $ 70 million. There is a lease as well," he added. As an initial step, the Mandala Airlines will fly the aircraft for the distance in under three hours with domestic and international routes.

For the record, Saratoga Group has a 55% stake in PT Mandala Airlines. Conditional sale and purchase agreement and other legal documents have been signed by Mandala Airlines, Saratoga Group as a financial investor, and Tiger Airways as the strategic investor.

After changing ownership, the Mandala Airlines is expected to implement the business model of Tiger Airways, offering low cost travel to international destinations and domestic.

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Saratoga Group became the majority shareholder of Mandala Airlines

Saratoga Group eventually became the majority shareholder of Mandala Airlines. Saratoga Group's ownership by 51% after signing the official documents conditional sale and purchase agreement.

Besides Saratoga, Tiger Airways is also a new ownership of Mandala Airlines with shareholder by 33%. While the remains is owned by unsecured creditors and holders of old shares.

"We were so pleased with the finalization of the documents of this transaction and look forward to Mandala Airlines immediately operational," said one of the founders of Saratoga Group, Sandiaga Uno.

By signing the agreement, the completion of the restructuring of Mandala Airlines closer. Just a note, Mandala Airlines has been serving a five-month due diligence. Mandala still must complete the requirements to mention a number of transactions required. Including the approval Mandala could flyback immediately from Indonesia’s government. This process is expected to take about 90 days before the operation.

"We expect continued to receive government support so that the plan could flyback to the Mandala can be realized immediately," said President Director of Mandala Airlines Air, Diono Nurjadin Diono Nurjadin.

Diono added, after transfer of ownership of the Mandala Airlines, the company will implement the business model of the Tiger Airways Group. Mandala Airlines will offer low cost travel to international destinations and domestic flights within five hours. The type of aircraft to be used post-restructuring is the Airbus A320.

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Saratoga Group took over the Mandala Airline stocks by 51 per cent

Finally, Saratoga Group took over the Mandala Airline stocks by 51 per cent, followed by Singapore airlines, Tiger Airways, by 33 percent, and the remaining 16 percent by the old shareholders and its creditors.

The agreement was conveyed Head of Corporate Communication, Mandala Air Nurmaria Sarosa, Thursday (5/19/2011) in Jakarta. "God willing, Mandala will flight June or July 2011, "said Nurmaria. The agreement was signed in Singapore on Thursday afternoon.

Saratoga Group, an investment holding company founded by  Edwin Soeryadjaya and Sandiaga Uno.

Tiger Airways is an airline which is majority owned by Singapore Airlines. Tiger Airways now flies 24 Airbus A320 aircraft. "Cardig and Indigo stocks was diluted in 16 percent of the shares are shared with other creditors," said Nurmaria.

Singapore media proclaim, Mandala Airlines will take the business model of low-cost airlines, like Tiger Airways, and still will operate the Airbus A320 with operational centers in Indonesia.

PT Mandala Airlines was established 17 April 1969 and was initially a part of the body of the Indonesian military. In April 2006, Indonesian transport group, Cardig International, acquired an airline with value at IDR 300 billion (34 million U.S. dollars). In October 2006, Indigo Partners, an investment firm, acquired 49 percent Cardig’s stake.

Mandala Airlines stops operations because of financial difficulties since January 13, 2011 and since April 1, had to lay off 50 percent of its employees.

Total debt of Mandala Airlines after verified reached IDR 2.45 trillion, which represents the amount owed to unsecured creditors. The amount is derived from about 114 creditors who are companies, 72,000 ticket holders that have been verified, and 350 travel agents. While Mandala’s assets that have beencal culated around IDR 110 billion.

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MANDALA Airlines will fly back on June

Finally, PT Mandala Airlines will back to operate immediately. The airline will soon fly again in June.

President Director of PT Angkasa Pura II Tri Sunoko claimed to have received a report from Mandala Airlines. "They said Mandala will fly again in June," he said.

Tri added that Mandala Airlines will occupy back Terminal III of Soekarno-Hatta Airport. However, Tri claimed not to know which type of aircraft will be operated by Mandala. "Clearly, we ready to prepare the airport for the arrival of the Mandala plane," he explained.

Director of Air Eligibility and Operation of Aircraft, Yurlis Hasibuan said that  have not obtained a registration statement of the Mandala plane yet. However, he said, Mandala opportunity to fly is still very large. "SIUP still valid, just arrange a new routes and prepare the aircraft," he said.

According to Yurlis, if Mandala Airlines fly again, they will evaluate the Air Operation Certificate (AOC) who had submitted the Mandala since stopped operating in January. "AOC is likely to change because of the route and the aircraft must be tested before its feasibility," he explained.

After testing is completed, the new Mandala can fly commercially. Just to refresh memories, Mandala Airlines stopped flying since January 13 due to financial problem.

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