Indonesia Air Asia - History

History

  • As Awair

The airline was established as Awair (Air Wagon International) in 1999 by Abdurrahman Wahid, former chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organisation. He had a 40% stake in the airline which he relinquished after being elected president of Indonesia in October 1999. It started operations on 22 June 2000 with Airbus 300/310 aircraft, but all flights were suspended in March 2002. Awair started operating domestically within Indonesia as an associate of AirAsia in December 2004.

  • As Indonesia AirAsia

On 1 December 2005, Awair changed its name to Indonesia AirAsia in line with the other AirAsia branded airlines in the region. AirAsia Berhad has a 49% share in the airline with Fersindo Nusaperkasa owning 51%. Indonesia's laws disallow majority foreign ownership on domestic civil aviation operations.

The company appointed CIMB Securities Indonesia and Credit Suisse Securities Indonesia as joint-lead underwriters for the 20 percent IPO in the fourth quarter 2011.

A buy out of Batavia Air was announced on 26 July 2012. It was to be in two stages with AirAsia to buy 76.95% shares form Metro Batavia in a partnership with Fersindo Nusaperkasa (Indonesia AirAsia). By 2013, AirAsia was to acquire the remaining 23.05% held by other shareholders. The acquisition of Batavia Air by AirAisa Berhad and Fersindo created some controversy with Indonesian regulators at the time.

By 11 October 2012 the deal between AirAsia Berhard, Fersindo Nusaperkasa (Indonesia AirAsia) and PT Metro Batavia had reversed.

When the cancellation of the planned takeover between Batavia and AirAsia was announce on 11 October 2012 a joint statement was issued announcing a plan to proceed with an alliance encompassing ground handling, distribution and inventory systems in Indonesia. The statement also announced a plan to deliver operational alliances between Batavia and the Air Asia group.

Batavia and Indonesia Air Asia announced a plan to form a separate joint venture to provide a regional pilot training centre in Indonesia. No details were provided on that new alliance when it was announced in early October 2012.

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