Air Paradise and Star Air to Fly Again?: Indonesia
I have always flown Garuda Airlines whenever I have travelled to Indonesia and domestically I have always tried to board a Garuda flight but sometimes it has been unavoidable and I had to use another carrier.
There has been occasions however when I have travelled internationally using another carrier but that was purely out of curiosity. One of these airlines was the fantastic Sempati Airlines. I really couldn't fault them and those hostesses with their short skirts made the flight shall we say, entertaining.
Then along came Air Paradise. Again out of curiosity I took one of their flights out of Perth in Australia to Bali. A lot of people only have praise for the airline but that was until it suddenly went bust literally overnight and ruined so many people's holidays. Personally I though they were crap. On the one and only flight I had with the carrier, I instantly knew how a sardine felt in a can. But that is by the by now.
I must admit however I have never used PT Star Air as a carrier. It is a domestic carrier of which I know very little.
Bali Discovery picked up on an article in the Tempo magazine about the Government reportedly being ready to give the Green Light for the two Indonesian carriers to resume flying:
tempointeraktif.com the website of the authoritative Indonesian-language newsweekly. Tempo reports that the Department of Civil Aviation has announced that two closed Indonesian air carriers - PT Air Paradise and PT Star Air are ready to resume commercial operations sometime at the end of 2006.
The Director of Aviation in the Department, Eddy Wibowo told the publication, they are in the process of finalizing various requirements. Wibowo said PT Air Paradise will continue to operate on international routes while PT Star Air will fly as a domestic carrier.
In granting the airlines the right to resume service the Government has reportedly reviewed the viability of the operations including the size of each airline's armada, the quality of its managerial manpower and capital resources on hand to maintain a safe operation.
Among the requirements imposed by the government are a minimal working capital of Rp. 100 billion; a fleet size of at least 5 aircraft; and the ability to employ pilots and technical staff with the skill and experience to meet government guidelines.
Claims Ahead?
When the Bali-based carrier Air Paradise suspended services in November 2005 millions of dollars in funds paid to the airline by Australian travel agents and wholesalers against future travel were lost.
Many industry observers will be watching closely to see how the substantial outstanding financial claims against the airlines will be addressed, if Air Paradise actually does resume international operations.
By Barrie | Permalink
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Comments
They owe me $3000 we paid for our March 06 trip.Don’t want cash in hand but they could a couple of dozen of us people on each flight and without money changing hands they could really diminish the debt to us passengers.I feel if they do not show goodwill they will find it really hard to put bums in seats.
I quite liked AP three and a half hour flights doesn’t really matter if you don’t have heaps of space.Their flights were good.
Cheers Laurs
My family and I were scheduled to fly to Bali with Air Paradise (AP) three days after they went bust. We managed to re-book on Garuda, however we lost the $5,000 we had paid for the AP air fares. We had a fantastic two weeks in Bali and my three children all thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve made numerous enquiries to find out whether I can expect to get my $5,000 back. All to no avail. If AP commences to fly again, I would be happy if my original tickets were honoured. My family and I would love to go back. Bali is a beautiful place and the people are so friendly.
Myself and family were also booked on Air Paradise when they went broke, if they re-open for business in Western Australia without paying their old customers the funds they owe them, I think all travel agents should stop taking bookings for them.
I don’t really think they will get too many people to fly with them regardless of whether agents will take bookings for them or not. I wouldn’t feel comfortable handing over cash when at the back of my mind I’d be thinking I might be spending my holiday at home if it all goes to shit again. that’s just me.
Sardine in a can?? U haven’t flown Aust Airlines before then…..
Yes, I agree that AP should & must honour their tickets to people.
But even if they fly again under the same name, aren’t they not obliged to pay cash &/or give tickets??
Can’t be one or the other.
I hope they do fly again, and give everyone they owe at ONLY tickets to make Bali busy again.
I had flown with numerous carriers to Bali & also flew Air Paradise but I found them helpful & friendly… I feel for the Aussies that lost $’s when they folded but after all the turmoil the country had maybe it was to be expected… I for one will fly with them again ! Sardine can ? If you want spacious try buisness class ! Remember… you get what you pay for !!!! you want a cheap holiday then you have to expect a little suffering !
“On the one and only flight I had with the carrier, I instantly knew how a sardine felt in a can”
Hmmm the Airbus 310 they used were came from ex-Singapore Airlines actually, so practically the same seating arrangement.