The Seventh Anniversary

Sriwijaya Air is celebrating its anniversary in JITEC Jakarta today. The airlines marks its seventh anniversary to continue expansion with several strategic action such as establishing training center and NAM Flying school, improving the quality of service, route and fleet expansion.

As part of the celebration, Sriwijaya Air signs MoU to order 20 aircraft with Embraer, worth US$ 810 million. The deal made Sriwijaya Air become the first airlines in Indonesia that sign firm commitment to order Embraer 195 and 175. Sriwijaya Air is expecting to start receive aircraft in the middle of 2012.

"Embraer 195 and 175 are suitable to support our operation in feeder routes with short runway. It could land in almost Indonesia's airports", Chandra Lie, Presiden Director of Sriwijaya Air, noted. Sriwijaya Air will utilize these aircraft to serve small airport in Papua, NTT and Maluku.

The airline which started on November 10, 2003, is also ordered 20 Boeing 737-800 NG. The contract signed last month in Seattle USA. Boeing 737-800 NG will come into service in 2014. This new aircraft will support existing services and new flights to Australia, China and other mid range routes.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chandra Lie said Sriwijaya Air has proven to be one of the fastest growing Airlines in Indonesia. His company started its operation with one aircraft to serve Pangkal Pinang - Jakarta. And currently the company operates 29 Boeing Aircraft B737 family and flown to 33 domestic and regional destinations. The airline has grown to 173 flights per day, carries approximately 5 million passengers a year with 88% average load factor.