Pacific Royale Airways

Pacific Royale Airways
IATA ICAO Call sign
RY PRQ SKYRIDER
FoundedNovember 2011
Commenced operationsJune 11, 2012[1]
Ceased operationsNovember 2012[2]
HubsJuanda International Airport
Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport
Hang Nadim International Airport[3]
Fleet size3
Destinations9
HeadquartersJakarta, Indonesia
Key peopleSamudra Sukardi (founder)
Tarun Trikha (CEO)
Goenarni Goenawan (shareholder)[4]

Pacific Royale Airways was an Indonesian commercial airline which received its government flight license in November 2011.[5] It received a formal Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) in May 2012, and made its first flight on June 11, 2012.[1][3][6] On 6 September 2012, the airline ceased operations on a temporary basis, before having its license revoked on 19 November 2012.[2]

History

Founding

In January 2011, former Riau Airlines president director, Samudra Sukardi, announced the founding of Pacific Royale Airways as a full-service scheduled carrier, funded by himself and two further investors, Gunarni Soeworodan and Indian businessman Tarun Trikha.[7][8] Combined, a total of $60 million had been invested in the launch of the airline; this included costs to acquire the 10 aircraft mandated by the Indonesian government for commercial flight operations, consisting of the purchase five Fokker 50s, as well as four leased ex-Air Berlin Airbus A320-200s and a single leased Airbus A330-300.[9][7]

The airline intended to compete with Garuda Indonesia, which held a monopoly in the Indonesian full-service airline market,[10][11] and announced its plans to outfit its jet aircraft with on-demand inflight entertainment screens at every seat.[12][13]

On 6 November 2011, the airline received a full service flight licence from the Indonesian government.[14]

Launch

On 7 January 2012, Pacific Royale received its first aircraft at Husein Sastranegara Airport, consisting of two ex-Ethiopian Airlines Fokker 50s, to be used for underserved rural and inter-island destinations as well as regional routes.[15][16] In February 2012, the airline announced its plan to launch operations the next month, subject to regulatory approval.[17] The plan was later delayed to June of that year as it had yet to receive its AOC.[18] A final proving flight, the last requirement for AOC issuance, was conducted on April 21, 2012. Pacific Royale received its AOC on May 29, 2012, intending to initially launch operations from two bases in Batam and Surabaya.[19][6]

Pacific Royale began commercial operations on 11 June 2012 using a Fokker 50 aircraft with a city-hopper flight originating in Surabaya and stopping at Pangkalan Bun, Semarang, and Bandung.[20] At its launch, Sukardi announced the airline's strategy to undercut rivalling full-service airlines by 10 percent, and stated the Pacific Royale's intentions to fly to Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, and Moscow within one year of operations.[21]

Demise

In August 2012, CEO Samurdra Sukardi resigned, due to a dispute with shareholders regarding the terms of his new contract.[22] Tarun Trikha replaced Sukardi as CEO following his resignation. By this time, the airline had reportedly carried over 2000 passengers with an average flight load of 65-70 percent.[23] In the same month, it received its third Fokker 50, which underwent a reconfiguration to include a premium cabin.[24][25]

On 6 September 2012, the airline announced a temporary cessation of flight operations, following the need to restructure the company as well as its operational strategy and organisational structure.[26][25] By October 2012, flight operations remain ceased, with the airline citing maintenance reasons.[27] The airline announced that operations would resume on October 16, 2012, but its fleet remained grounded the following day.[28][29] Pacific Royale's flight license was revoked the following month on 19 November 2012,[2] due to inactivity.[30] It is currently listed as "ceased operation in 2012".

Fleet

In order to meet minimum requirements for commercial flight operations, Pacific Royale planned to operate a fleet of ten aircraft. The fleet was to include five Fokker-50 turboprop airliners, all of which used to fly for Ethiopian Airlines,[31] and five leased jet airliners–four Airbus A320s and one Airbus A330. Two Fokker-50s flew at the airline's initial launch, with more Fokkers and Airbuses entering service in the following months.[4][14]

Pacific Royale Airways fleet (as of 17 October 2012)[28]
Aircraft In service On order Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Fokker 50 3 2 58 58
Airbus A320-200 0 4 12 138 150 [7]
Airbus A330-300 0 1 42 250 292 [7]
Total 2 8

Destinations

In May 2012, Pacific Royale Airways won approval to fly 62 domestic routes and 11 international routes.[3] The airline planned to operate a network carrier strategy, and use its Fokker-50s as feeders to link Surabaya, Batam City, Banyuwangi, Madiun, Pekanbaru, the Natuna Islands and Jambi. Its Airbus jets were to be used for international routes, such as Jakarta-Mumbai, Surabaya-Singapore, Surabaya-Hong Kong, Bandung-Singapore and Bandung-Kuala Lumpur.[4]

Initial routes

From June 11, 2012[32]

Surabaya—Semarang—Pangkalanbun—Semarang—Bandung—Semarang—Surabaya

From June 15, 2012[32]

Batam—Jambi—Kerinci—Padang—Batam—Pekanbaru—Batam

References

  1. ^ a b "Pacific Royale Airways Terbang Perdana". Kompas.com via Google Translate. June 11, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Izin Rute Maskapai Pacific Royale Hangus" Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine. CentroOne.com. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "June 7, 2012 - Pasific Royale Airways Terbang Mulai 11 Juni". Tempo.co. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c The Jakarta Post (January 26, 2012). "Pacific Royal to spread its wings in March".
  5. ^ "Airline passengers to increase by 15%" Jakarta Post. November 12, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Pacific Royale gets AOC, ready for first flight in June" Archived 2013-10-03 at the Wayback Machine. Jakarta Post. May 31, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d "Singapore Airshow 2012: Pacific Royale launch to intensify full service competition in Indonesia". CAPA - Centre for Aviation. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  8. ^ Gunawan, Hendra (31 January 2011). "Samudera Sukardi Dirikan Maskapai Pacific Royale". Tribunnews.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  9. ^ Nugroho, Ragil (2012-05-29). "Batik Air dan Pacific Royale tantang Garuda". kontan.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  10. ^ Djumena, Erlangga (2011-02-01). "Pacific Royale Bidik "Full Sevices"". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  11. ^ Sulistyono, Arif Gunawan (2011-11-04). "Pacific Royale Airways akan saingi Garuda". Bisnis.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  12. ^ Patricia, 15 February 2012. "Pacific Royale Airways Selects Lumexis FTTS IFE : IFExpress". AirFax. Retrieved 2023-02-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Prakosa, Giri (2012-02-16). "GMF dipercaya rawat pesawat Pacific Royale Airways : Okezone Economy". Okezone (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  14. ^ a b "November 6, 2011 - IndonesiaToday: Pacific Royale Set to Fly Early Next Year". Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  15. ^ I Made Asdhiana (2012-03-16). "Pacific Royale Datangkan Dua Fokker 50". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  16. ^ "PK-PRB Pacific Royale Airways Fokker F50". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  17. ^ HADI, MAHARDIKA SATRIA (2012-02-16). "Maret, Pacific Royale Siap Terbang". Tempo. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  18. ^ I Made Asdhiana (2012-05-11). "Pacific Royale Airways Siap Beroperasi Juni 2012". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  19. ^ "Batam and Surabaya first two bases for Pacific Royale Airways". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  20. ^ I Made Asdhiana (2012-06-11). "Pacific Royale Airways Terbang Perdana". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  21. ^ "Bermodal 5 Fokker F50, Pacific Royale Siap Saingi Garuda & Lion". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  22. ^ "Pacific Royale CEO Resigns Citing Dispute". Jakarta Globe. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  23. ^ "Pacific Royale Airways tunjuk bos baru". merdeka.com. 2012-08-09. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  24. ^ "Pacific Royale Masuk Segmen Full Service untuk Penerbangan Perintis". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  25. ^ a b Zulfikar, Muhammad. "Pacific Royale Airways Hentikan Operasional Sementara". Tribunnews.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  26. ^ Sulistyono, Arif Gunawan (2012-10-29). "PACIFIC ROYALE AIRWAYS: Berhenti Sementara Terbang". Bisnis.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  27. ^ Putra, Idris Rusadi (2012-10-17). "Pacific Royale berhenti terbang sementara". merdeka.com. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  28. ^ a b Direktorat Jenderal Perhubungan Udara (17 October 2012). "Pacific Royale Stop Sementara Penerbangan Kementerian Perhubungan Republik Indonesia". Kementrian Perhubungan Republik Indonesia. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  29. ^ Dori, Melati Amaya (October 17, 2012). "Pacific Royale berhenti mengudara". Kontan.co.id. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  30. ^ Khairul, Muhammad (2012-11-16). "Izin terbang Pacific Royale terancam dicabut". kontan.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  31. ^ "Ethiopian Airlines sells Fokker 50s, seeks Q400s". DefenceWeb.co.za. January 18, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  32. ^ a b "Pacific Royale Airline Launches Operation". Routes. Retrieved 2023-02-14.