RGA-Black Stone Airlines kickstarts operation in Indonesia

Its plan to launch five planes was put on hold due to rising oil prices.

After successfully rebranding and carrying out Asia Cargo Airlines' first flight from Kertajati Airport since the pandemic, Group CEO of Asia Cargo Network, Marco Isaak, partnered with the Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly, Bambang Soesatyo, to launch RGA-Black Stone Airlines, which will serve cargo flights for both domestic and foreign needs. The inauguration was carried out at Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, 31 March.

Currently, RGA-Black Stone Airlines has two Boeing 737-300 Freighter aircraft by using West Java International Airport (BIJB) Kertajati, Majalengka, West Java as a 'home base'. 

"Initially we planned to have five units this year, but because of the Russia-Ukrainian war which has caused an increase in oil prices, we have put the plan on hold for a bit," Marco said. However, Marco himself is optimistic considering that Indonesia is a large country with high logistics needs.

Meanwhile, Bambang Soesatyo, more familiarly called Bamsoet, said that he does not only serve cargo flights, but also Umrah and Hajj flights. Even in the future, RGA-Black Stone Airlines will also prepare cargo flights using drone air transportation without a pilot eHang 216.

 "The initial route that was opened from Jakarta to BIJB Kertajati was then distributed in areas around West Java or flown back to various other areas using RGA-Black Stone Airlines aircraft," said Bamsoet.

In an exclusive interview with Asian Business Review, Zack Isaak, President Director of PT Raffles Global Angkasa (RGA) said that although the challenge in terms of price was still very high, he was confident that with Indonesia's market share, RGA-Black Stone Airlines would experience success. 

"In the meantime, we are doing a readjust and rebalance by choosing which aviation sector is a priority," said Zack. "We are targeting that this year we will increase the number of fleets, and next year will start operating for Umrah and Hajj flights," said Zack.

Hajj and Umrah flights are projected to operate from BIJB Kertajati and will prepare four Airbus 330 Neo aircraft to carry Hajj and Umrah pilgrims to the Holy Land of Mecca.

Also present at the inauguration were Director -General of Civil Aviation Novie Riyanto representing the Indonesian Minister of Transportation, Director of Angkasa Pura II M Awaludin, Director of Air Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation Maria Endah Kristi, Director of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations of the Ministry of Transportation Dadun Kohar, and Director of Operations AirNav Indonesia Mokhammad Khatim.