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Nusantara Airways - Boeing 737-300



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Bird by Davies Christian Surya on Behnance

Nusantara Airways - Boeing 737-300

Nusantara Airways, officially Nuri Nusantara Mengangkut, was an Indonesian hybrid carrier based at Surabaya's Juanda International Airport. The airline's branding was based around the Nuri Ambon king parrot, whose colourful tail could be seen on the tails of the carrier's aircraft. Branding itself as Indonesia's Colourful Airline, it leased a fleet of three 737-300s and a single 727-200 to operate flights across eleven destinations in Indonesia between its founding in 1995 and bankruptcy in 2007. The airline offered low fares and a buy-on-board product, although snacks and beverages were served free of charge. It quickly became popular among Indonesians looking for alternatives to expensive full-service carriers on trunk routes to Jakarta and Denpasar as it provided reliable and safe service.

After enjoying moderate success in its first few years of operations, the airline placed an order with Airbus for sixteen A320-200s and a pair of A330-300s in 2003. These aircraft were never delivered and only a single A320 had its tail adorned with the colourful feathers of the king parrot, as the airline continued to delay deliveries, citing a lack of funds.

In 2005, a corruption scandal shook Indonesia with Nusantara Airways at its centre, where billionaire founder Hasan Prakoso fled the country for Hong Kong, reportedly with over IDR 19.5 billion that he had embezzled from the airline as well as other companies he owned. The bad press from the incident led to a drop in customers, which in addition to chaotic management stemming from the sudden change of ownership and rising gas prices, was too much for the airline to sustain. Nusantara Airways declared bankruptcy and ceased operations on New Year's Day of 2007.

Posted Image
Billboard in Bekasi advertising Nusantara Airways in 1996

Posted ImagePK-AMG after the airline's bankruptcy in Xpress air colours

AIRCRAFT DETAILS
Boeing 737-300 - PK-AMG

August 1986 delivered to Air Yukon
October 1994 stored in Victorville
June 1995 leased to Nusantara Airways
November 2006 stored at Yogyakarta
June 2007 sold to Xpress air
November 2011 overran rwy at Pangkal Pinang, written off



    nutsackera

    This is the most splendid livery I've ever seen. Well done Makka Pakka, you are a leading light in the AE Community.

     

    Thanks

    Work of artery