Indonesia's rambunctious aviation market is getting a new player, with BBN Airlines Indonesia setting up shop at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta on August 31 in preparation for offering cargo services from 2023 in competition with the 45 other carriers already operating at the airport.

BBN Airlines Indonesia will be an ACMI and charter specialist operating a planned fleet of 737-400Fs, 737-800Fs and A320 Family freighters, with A330Fs expected in the future, Bluebird Nordic told Cargo Facts. These aircraft will be sourced from various lessors, including those belonging to BBN parent Avia Solutions Group as well as third-party companies.

BBN Airlines Indonesia is owned by BBN Cargo Airlines Holdings, an aviation company that also operates Bluebird Nordic (Reykjavik Keflavik). BBN Cargo Airlines Holdings has commenced its application for a separate air operator's certificate for their new Indonesian airline, expected later this year. The start-up is aiming to secure its Indonesian air operator's certificate in the second quarter of 2023. Bluebird Nordic told ch-aviation that the airline will start operating domestic flights but Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, India, and Australia are also prospective future destinations.

“Indonesia is the largest and fastest-growing internet economy and is expected to account for half of all e-commerce transactions in Southeast Asia by 2022," said Martynas Grigas, the Chairman of BBN Airlines Indonesia. " We see this as a great opportunity and are excited to develop the cargo airline to fulfil the market needs.”

Grigas, whose CV includes a stint at airBaltic (BT, Riga) and who most recently spent six years as the CEO at FL Technics Indonesia, did not say what type of aircraft or how many the new airline would take. According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Bluebird Nordic has a 15-strong mixed fleet of Boeing aircraft, including one B737-300(F); one B737-400(F); six B737-400(SF)s; and three B737-800(BCF)s. One B777-200ER and three B777-300ERs are slated for P2F conversion.

The two major aircraft manufacturers do not hold any outstanding orders for BBN Cargo Airlines Holdings or its Icelandic airline. The airline only owns four of its 15 planes, leasing the remainder.