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Airlines’ maintenance, finances in spotlight after deadly crash
Publicly listed Indonesian airlines' financial reports show decreasing maintenance and repair costs, but experts have expressed confidence that airlines will not compromise safety.
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Illustration of the Sriwijaya Air SJ-182 passenger jet (JP/Mecca Yumna NP)
I
ndonesian airlines’ fleet maintenance and finances are under scrutiny, amid wide calls for better safety supervision after a deadly crash involving private carrier Sriwijaya Air.
Publicly listed Indonesian airlines' financial reports show decreasing maintenance and repair costs, but experts have expressed confidence that airlines will not compromise safety.
While Sriwijaya Air’s current financial performance is undisclosed, the airline has been financially struggling for years, especially after its partnership with national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia was terminated in 2019. Based on Garuda and its aircraft maintenance firm arm GMF AeroAsia’s financial statement, Sriwijaya Air owes Garuda US$37.5 million and GMF AeroAsia $54.3 million as of September 2020.
In September 2019, an internal note written by Sriwijaya Air former quality, safety and security director Toto Soebandoro was leaked and went viral. In it, he recommended a cease of operations as the airline did not have the inventory of tools and equipment, as well as minimum spare parts and qualified engineers it claimed to have in a report submitted to the Transportation Ministry and that it had yet to secure a partnership with several aircraft maintenance firms.
“We recommend that Sriwijaya Air stop its operation on its own initiative or be shut down to adjust with the capabilities for the next few days, due to safety reasons,” the letter reads.
The lack of response to Toto's letter also prompted two of the airline’s directors to resign due to a "conflict of interest".
Sriwijaya Air has had to park 12 of its 18 airplanes, excluding its regional service NAM Air, according to website planespotters.net, as the pandemic battered demand for air transport. The fleet has an average age of 17.4 years.
